World Cup 2022 draw LIVE: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland learn qualifying fate
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the other European teams discovered who stands between them and a place in Qatar
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The 2022 World Cup draw is complete with European teams now knowing their opponents on the road to Qatar.
Gareth Southgate’s England were pulled out in Group I alongside Poland, who have faced the Three Lions in qualifying for the 1974, 1990, 1994, 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as taking on England in the finals in Mexico in 1986. England and Poland also met in qualifying for the 1992 and 2000 European Championships. They also face Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino in matches which will be played between March and November next year.
Scotland are up against Denmark, Austria, Israel, the Faroe Islands and Moldova in Group F as they seek a first World Cup qualification since 1998. The Scots lost to Israel in a Nations League match last month.
The Republic of Ireland face reigning European champions Portugal, as well as Serbia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan in Group A, while Northern Ireland face a tough group against Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.
Follow live reaction and analysis from the draw in Zurich:
POT 4
Group G - Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro
Group H - Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia
Group I - England, Poland, Hungary, Albania
Group J - Germany, Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia
Albania are the third opponents for England to consider. So far, reasonably straight-forward?
POT 4
Group D - France, Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group E - Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus
Group F - Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel
The Scots are looking forward to Euro 2020 of course - but beyond that, another tournament appearance looks like it will need a phenomenal effort!
POT 4
Group A - Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B - Spain, Sweden, Greece, Georgia
Group C - Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria
Ireland might fancy their chances so far. The clashes with Serbia will of course be key.
POT 3
Group G - Netherlands, Turkey, Norway
Group H - Croatia, Slovakia, Russia
Group I - England, Poland, Hungary
Group J - Germany, Romania, Iceland
Dominik Szoboszlai on trial for a summer move?! Might well be, if he hasn’t already moved in January.
POT 3
Group D - France, Ukraine, Finland
Group E - Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic
Group F - Denmark, Austria, Scotland
Doesn’t look too easy for Wales so far either, though the Czechs have massively underwhelmed recently. For Scotland…that’s a bit of a stinker to be honest. Austria are a very good side for a Pot 2 outfit.
POT 3
Group A - Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland
Group B - Spain, Sweden, Greece
Group C - Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland
Difficult group for Northern Ireland shaping up!
POT 2
Group G - Netherlands, Turkey
Group H - Croatia, Slovakia
Group I - England, Poland
Group J - Germany, Romania
Lewandowski, Milik, Szczesny and Co. are the first side Southgate’s team will face. Pot 3 next!
POT 2
Group D - France, Ukraine
Group E - Belgium, Wales
Group F - Denmark, Austria
POT 2
Group A - Portugal, Serbia
Group B - Spain, Sweden
Group C - Italy, Switzerland
POT 1
Belgium - Group E
Germany - Group J
That’s your lot for the top nations. Now we get to start seeing who each of them will face as we move on to Pot 2.
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