2018 FIFA World Cup Draw Schedule
The much-anticipated 2018 World Cup draw took place at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on December 1st, with some mouth-watering encounters set to take place in Russia next year. With a total of eight groups helping to occupy the 32 nations involved, the countdown to the competition has well and truly begun. For those still unsure of some of the finer parts of the draw itself, we are here to provide the lowdown on everything you need to know when it comes to the 2018 World Cup. It is worth bearing in mind that all of the 32 qualified teams were put into four pots based on their October FIFA ranking, and were subsequently drawn into eight groups of four teams each. Hosts Russia were automatically among the group of top seeds, finding themselves in Group A despite being the lowest ranked nation. As well as this, there could be no more than two teams from Europe in any group, and no more than one from any other confederation. Tournament Dates: 14th June – 15th July 2018 Opening Ceremony: 13th/14th June 2018 – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow[/text_output]
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Egypt
- Argentina
[/text_output][text_output]Group E:
- Brazil
- Switzerland
- Costa Rica
- Serbia
[/text_output]
- France
- Australia
- Peru
- Denmark
[/text_output][text_output]Group G:
- Belgium
- Panama
- Tunisia
- England
[/text_output]
- Argentina
- Iceland
- Croatia
- Nigeria
[/text_output][text_output]Group H:
- Poland
- Senegal
- Colombia
- Japan
[/text_output]
2018 FIFA World Cup: Full Schedule
[/text_output][text_output]
Russia v Saudi Arabia
Opener: Thu 14-Jun 1600
[/text_output]
GROUP STAGE
[/text_output]
- Fri 15-Jun 1300 Egypt v Uruguay
- Fri 15-Jun 1900 Portugal v Spain
- Fri 15-Jun 1600 Morocco v IR Iran
[/text_output][text_output]
- Sat 16-Jun 1100 France v Australia
- Sat 16-Jun 1700 Peru v Denmark
- Sat 16-Jun 1400 Argentina v Iceland
- Sat 16-Jun 2000 Croatia v Nigeria
[/text_output][text_output]
- Sun 17-Jun 1900 Brazil v Switzerland
- Sun 17-Jun 1300 Costa Rica v Serbia
- Sun 17-Jun 1600 Germany v Mexico
[/text_output][text_output]
- Mon 18-Jun 1300 Sweden v Korea Rep
- Mon 18-Jun 1600 Belgium v Panama
- Mon 18-Jun 1900 Tunisia v England
[/text_output][text_output]
- Tue 19-Jun 1600 Poland v Senegal
- Tue 19-Jun 1300 Colombia v Japan
- Tue 19-Jun 1900 Russia v Egypt
[/text_output][text_output]
- Wed 20-Jun 1600 Uruguay v Saudi Arabia
- Wed 20-Jun 1300 Portugal v Morocco
- Wed 20-Jun 1900 IR Iran v Spain
[/text_output][text_output]
- Thu 21-Jun 1600 France v Peru
- Thu 21-Jun 1300 Denmark v Australia
- Thu 21-Jun 1900 Argentina v Croatia
[/text_output]
- Fri 22-Jun 1600 Nigeria v Iceland
- Fri 22-Jun 1300 Brazil v Costa Rica
- Fri 22-Jun 1900 Serbia v Switzerland
[/text_output][text_output]
- Sat 23-Jun 1900 Germany v Sweden
- Sat 23-Jun 1600 Korea Rep v Mexico
- Sat 23-Jun 1300 Belgium v Tunisia
[/text_output][text_output]
- Sun 24-Jun 1300 England v Panama
- Sun 24-Jun 1900 Poland v Colombia
- Sun 24-Jun 1600 Japan v Senegal
[/text_output][text_output]
- Mon 25-Jun 1500 Uruguay v Russia
- Mon 25-Jun 1500 Saudi Arabia v Egypt
- Mon 25-Jun 1900 IR Iran v Portugal
- Mon 25-Jun 1900 Spain v Morocco
[/text_output][text_output]
- Tue 26-Jun 1500 Denmark v France
- Tue 26-Jun 1500 Australia v Peru
- Tue 26-Jun 1900 Nigeria v Argentina
- Tue 26-Jun 1900 Iceland v Croatia
[/text_output][text_output]
- Wed 27-Jun 1900 Serbia v Brazil
- Wed 27-Jun 1900 Switzerland v Costa Rica
- Wed 27-Jun 1500 Korea Rep v Germany
- Wed 27-Jun 1500 Mexico v Sweden
[/text_output][text_output]
- Thu 28-Jun 1900 England v Belgium
- Thu 28-Jun 1900 Panama v Tunisia
- Thu 28-Jun 1500 Japan v Poland
- Thu 28-Jun 1500 Senegal v Colombia
[/text_output]
ROUND of 16
[/text_output]
- Sat 30-Jun 1900 1A v 2B
- Sat 30-Jun 1500 1C v 2D
[/text_output]
- Sun 1-Jul 1500 1B v 2A
- Sun 1-Jul 1900 1D v 2C
[/text_output]
- Mon 2-Jul 1500 1E v 2F
- Mon 2-Jul 1900 1G v 2H
[/text_output]
- Tue 3-Jul 1500 1F v 2E
- Tue 3-Jul 1900 1H v 2G
- Tue 3-Jul 1900 1H v 2G
[/text_output]
QUARTER FINALS
[/text_output]
- Fri 6-Jul 1500 W49 v W50
- Fri 6-Jul 1900 W53 v W54
[/text_output]
- Sat 7-Jul 1900 W51 v W52
- Sat 7-Jul 1500 W55 v W56
[/text_output]
SEMI FINALS
- Tue 10-Jul 1900 W57 v W58
- Wed 11-Jul 1900 W59 v W60
[/text_output]
THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF
- Sat 14-Jul 1500 L61 v L62
[/text_output]
FINAL
- Sun 15-Jul 1600 W61 v W62
The 2018 World Cup Final will take place at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at 4pm UK time.[/text_output]
2018 World Cup Draw: Talking Points
2014 World Cup winners Germany will open their account against Mexico having been draw alongside the South American’s, along with Sweden and Korea Republic in Group F. Sweden reached the Finals after an impressive Playoff victory over four-time World Cup winners Italy. Undoubtedly the biggest match-up during the group stage will be Portugal’s tie with neighbours Spain, with the Euro 2016 champions meeting in Sochi for the first match in Group B. The European giants will also take on Iran and Morocco during the group stage. Meanwhile, hosts Russia will be very happy with their draw, with Stanislav Cherchesov’s side set to take on Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Group A favourites Uruguay. The hosts will take on Saudi Arabia in the tournaments opening encounter at the Luzhniki Stadium on June 14th. Five-time winners Brazil are always a name to avoid in the draw, with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia perhaps already having one eye on second place in Group E. Neymar Jr and Co finished top of the CONMEBOL qualifying standings, with just one defeat in 18 matches. Brazil’s rivals Argentina face a tough task in making it through to the knockout stage in Russia, with Lionel Messi and Co having been drawn alongside debutants Iceland, as well as Croatia and Nigeria in Group D. Argentina and Nigeria will meet in the World Cup for the fifth time. Meanwhile, England were drawn against Roberto Martinez’s Belgium in Group G, with a whole host of familiar Premier League faces set to go head-to-head. Elsewhere in the group, minnows Tunisia and Panama will be looking to cause upsets. Panama qualified for the Finals for the first time in their history thanks to a win over Costa Rica back in October. Euro 2016 finalists France open their campaign with a clash against Australia, while Peru and Denmark help to make up a competitive looking draw in Group C. Australia denied Honduras a place in the finals after their Playoff victory over the Central American’s. Finally, having lost just once during qualifying, Poland are the favourites in Group H, however Colombia, Senegal and Japan will certainly be no pushovers in another potentially tight grouping. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored a massive 16 goals during qualifying for the Poles, one more than Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.[/text_output]