When is the World Cup draw? Date, start time and who can still qualify?
Everything you need to know ahead of the group stage draw for the 2022 Qatar World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.The wait for the 2022 World Cup is almost over with the draw for the tournament set to take place ahead of the tournament in Qatar later this year.
England have already secured their place at the tournament, which is being played in November and December instead of its usual summer slot to avoid the intense heat in Qatar.
The awarding of the World Cup to Qatar 12 years ago was contentious and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have raised concerns over the treatment of migrant workers in the country.
Teams such as Denmark and Germany highlighted human rights abuses after qualifying for the tournament, and there are still several more places up for grabs ahead of the conclusion of the World Cup qualifiers this week while some play-offs will not take place until after the draw.
Each of the eight World Cup groups will include one team from each of Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 3 and Pot 4, with hosts Qatar the team from Pot 1 that will be placed in Group A - enabling them to play in the first game of the tournament. England are one of the eight seeded teams in Pot 1, while Wales or Scotland - should either qualify from the European play-offs that were delayed due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - are in Pot 4.
With the exception of Uefa, who can supply two nations to a single group, teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn alongside one another. For example, Argentina could not be in the same group as Uruguay, but England could face Croatia.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the World Cup draw.
When is the World Cup draw?
It will take place on Friday 1 April at 5:00pm BST (7:00pm local time).
How can I watch it?
There will be Fifa live stream while the BBC will also broadcast the ceremony.
Who has qualified for the World Cup?
Uefa (12 qualified from 13 spots)
- Germany
- Denmark
- France
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Spain
- Serbia
- England
- Switzerland
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Scotland or Ukraine or Wales
Conmebol (4 qualified from either 4 or 5 spots)
- Brazil
- Argentina
- Ecuador
- Uruguay
- Peru go to inter-confederation play-off
AFC (5 qualified from either 5 or 6 spots)
- Qatar (hosts)
- South Korea
- Iran
- Japan
- Saudi Arabia
- Australia/United Arab Emirates go to inter-confederation play-off.
CAF (5 qualified from 5 spots)
- Senegal
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Morocco
- Tunisia
Concacaf (1 qualified from 3 or 4 spots)
- Canada
- Mexico
- USA
- Costa Rica go to inter-confederation play-off
OFC (0 qualified from 0 or 1 spot)
- New Zealand go to inter-confederation play-off
Inter-confederation play-offs
- Australia/United Arab Emirates v Peru
- Costa Rica v New Zealand
What are the World Cup draw pots?
Pot 1 (seeded teams): Qatar, Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal.
Pot 2: Mexico, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, USA, Croatia.
Pot 3: Senegal, Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, South Korea, Tunisia.
Pot 4: Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Wales/Scotland/Ukraine, Costa Rica/New Zealand, UAE/Australia/Peru.
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