Moscow: The 2010 World Cup winners Spain were placed in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo’s European champions Portugal in an exciting draw for the 2018 tournament which took place here Friday. The two other teams in the group are Morocco and Iran.
Neymar’s Brazil meanwhile will have to negotiate a group which has Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia as they seek a sixth title.
Holders Germany will face Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they try to retain the title for the first time since Brazil in 1962.
Lionel Messi and his Argentina team which struggled to qualify will play European debutants Iceland as well as a talented Croatia team and Nigeria.
In a star-studded ceremony in the Kremlin here, England were placed with Kevin de Bruyne’s Belgium, surprise packages Panama and Tunisia.
Host nation Russia will face Saudi Arabia in the tournament-opener June 14 in the Luzhniki Stadium here. Russia’s other opponents in Group A are Uruguay, led by Luis Suarez, and Egypt, spearheaded by Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah.
France and their potent strikeforce featuring Antoine Griezmann and teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe will play Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C.
The Groups
Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Egypt
Group B: Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, Korea
Group G: England, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan
Agence France-Press