World Cup draw LIVE: England face USA, Iran and possibly Wales or Scotland at Qatar 2022
Follow all the latest updates as the Qatar 2022 World Cup group stage draw completed in Doha
Follow all the latest updates and reaction from Qatar 2022 as the World Cup group stage draw took place in Doha this afternoon.
England were drawn into Group B alongside USA, Iran and the winner of the three teams still alive in the European play-offs - namely Wales, Scotland and Ukraine. If Wales - who are through to the play-off final - or Scotland reach the World Cup, it will set up a tantalising Battle of Britain in Qatar.
Spain and Germany were drawn together in a standout tie in Group E, while hosts Qatar face Netherlands, the Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal and Ecuador in Group A.
Gareth Southgate, who was in attendance at the draw, has been optimistic about England’s chances but insisted they will have to be “close to perfect” to lift the trophy later this year. The tournament will also likely represent the final chance for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to clinch World Cup glory before the end of their careers. Ronaldo’s Portugal are in Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea, while Messi’s Argentina face Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland in Group C.
Follow all the latest updates after the draw below:
World Cup 2022 draw: ‘Not acceptable’ for Qatar officials to confiscate rainbow flags at World Cup
Removing rainbow flags from supporters at the World Cup later this year would be an unacceptable act by the Qatari authorities, the Fare network has said.
A senior security official for the host country’s government told the Associated Press that flags could be confiscated from people to protect them from being attacked by others.
Fare, which was part of a group of 16 organisations which is seeking assurances from tournament organisers over the safety of fans from the LGBTIQ+ community, said the suggestion that flags would be removed to ensure safety would be seen as a pretext and that the “bigger danger” to the community was the state, not intolerant supporters.
‘Not acceptable’ for Qatar officials to confiscate rainbow flags at World Cup
A senior security official in Qatar reportedly said rainbow flags could be taken off supporters for their own protection.
World Cup 2022 draw
A reminder of what the World Cup draw pots look like?
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.
The full draw is expected to get underway in just over an hour’s time at 5pm.
World Cup 2022 draw
England manager Gareth Southgate hopes his side can find the “missing piece” and win a trophy in 2022.
The Three Lions missed out on their first piece of major silverware since 1966 when they lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy in July, which came three years after a run to the World Cup semi-finals.
They qualified for the 2022 tournament at a canter and will head to Qatar as one of the favourites. After all England have achieved under Southgate, he knows winning a trophy is the last box to tick.
Gareth Southgate hoping 2022 brings a major trophy for England
The Three Lions have reached a European Championship final and World Cup semi-final in the last four years.
World Cup 2022 draw
England will have to be close to perfect to win World Cup says manager Gareth Southgate who heads into Friday’s World Cup draw believing England can win the tournament.
Confidence, experience and belief have all grown in the Three Lions squad thanks to the run to the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and reaching the final of Euro 2020 last summer.
Southgate accepts his team are “there to be shot at” but that they have a right to rate their chances.
He said: “We have said to the team this week, ‘if we can get to a semi-final, we can get to a final, and we did. If we can get to a final, we can win’. That’s clear.
“To do that is incredibly difficult and we’ll have to be as close to perfect as can be.”
Gareth Southgate: England will have to be close to perfect to win World Cup
‘We know we’ve had consistent performances over a three, four-year period and we are one of the teams – I think there are a few – that could win this tournament’
World Cup 2022 draw
Former England captain David Beckham is an ambassador for the Qatar World Cup and has been speaking about the tourament.
“It’s a massive moment for everyone in Qatar and very inspiring. I’ve always talked about the legacy of the World Cup for Qatar - but also the legacy of the World Cup everywhere,” he said.
“That’s what the World Cup brings to a nation - it’s an inspiring moment. For Qatar, it’s a chance to show off the country and its love of football, its history and culture. Having some of the biggest players in the sport descend on Qatar is a huge moment for the country and region.
“Fans are going to have a great experience. In the past, fans have had to travel between games but in Qatar, they’re going to be able to go to more than one match a day because it is such a compact tournament.
“I think the fans will enjoy what Qatar has to offer. There will be great food, a warm welcome from the local people and lots to see and enjoy besides the football.”
World Cup 2022 draw
Gareth Southgate says he will try and learn all he can about the human rights issues in Qatar before heading to the 2022 World Cup.
England boss Southgate, who has signed a two-year contract extension until December 2024, will lead the Three Lions to the first winter World Cup, to be held in Qatar from 21st November until 18th December next year.
Same-sex relationships are banned in Qatar, while the country has also been widely criticised for its treatment of migrant workers, who have helped build all the infrastructure required to host a World Cup.
“As the manager, I’m trying to educate myself far better into what’s going on in that part of the world,” Southgate said.
“I’ve got to make sure that factually I’m correct, that we understand both sides of the stories. We would look to try to help the players so they are as prepared as they can be for those discussions when they speak publicly.”
Gareth Southgate keen to learn all he can about Qatar human rights issues
England will travel to the country for the 2022 World Cup late next year
World Cup 2022 draw: How to buy World Cup 2022 tickets for tournament in Qatar
After over a decade of controversy since it was awarded the tournament, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is just a few months away from beginning.
The tournament will be the first to be held in the Arab world and only the second to place in Asia, after Japan and South Korea joint-hosted the event in 2002. This edition will be the last to feature just 32 teams, with the tournament being expanded from 2026 inwards in order to feature 48 nations.
Ticket sales are now underway for the tournament, and everything you need to know is below.
How to buy World Cup 2022 tickets for tournament in Qatar
All you need to know about buying tickets for the World Cup in Qatar
World Cup 2022 draw: LGBT+ fans will be welcome in Qatar, FA chief insists
The English Football Association has assured LGBT+ fans they will be welcome in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, despite the country’s ban on homosexuality.
Gay people in Qatar have little choice but to hide their sexuality to fit into a society which widely regards homosexuality as a sin. However, under pressure from the outside, it appears Qatar will soften its stance specifically for the tournament when the world’s eyes focus on the country – a flexible stance which has privately angered the local gay community even more.
Ahead of next winter’s World Cup, Qatar has insisted “everyone is welcome” and announced rainbow flags can be displayed at the stadiums in solidarity with the gay community. And the FA’s chief executive Mark Bullingham says he has received reassurances from the country. “We have been given those assurances that people from the LGBTQ communities will be allowed to go to Qatar and support the team.”
LGBT+ fans will be welcome in Qatar for 2022 World Cup, FA chief insists
Homosexuality is banned in Qatar but FA chief executive Mark Bullingham says he has received assurances over the rights of gay fans attending the World Cup
World Cup 2022 draw
Amnesty International released a report last year accusing Qatar of failing to implement its own laws designed to improve conditions for migrant workers but the World Cup host nation’s government rejected the assertion.
At the same time equality campaign group Kick It Out formed a working group to look at inclusivity issues in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal.
Speaking last November, the communications executive director of Qatar’s supreme committee for organising the tournament, Fatma Al-Nuaimi, spoke to the BBC about these issues saying: “It’s a tournament for everyone, a tournament of firsts, and a tournament where everyone will be welcome.
“The Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 will bring with it the biggest influx of sports fans the region has ever seen - introducing them to Arab culture and traditions.
“It’s an unprecedented opportunity to project a true image of the Arab world as a welcoming, peaceful, and hospitable region.
“With one year to go we achieved a degree of readiness that no Fifa World Cup host country has reached this far out from the tournament kick-off date.”
World Cup 2022 draw: No one’s World Cup place is secure, says England boss Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate has urged England’s World Cup hopefuls to scrap for selection and warned no one is guaranteed a place on the plane to Qatar.
Southgate made 10 changes from the weekend win over Switzerland as preparations for the winter tournament continued with Tuesday evening’s 3-0 success over Ivory Coast at Wembley.
England will discover their group stage opponents on Friday when the World Cup draw is made in Doha.
With the count down to the competition firmly under way, Three Lions boss Southgate expects growing competition to fuel the desire of those seeking to making his final squad.
No one’s World Cup place is secure, says England boss Gareth Southgate
England will discover their World Cup group stage opponents on Friday.
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