World Cup 2022 draw: England drawn against USA and Iran and will face either Wales, Scotland or Ukraine
Wales, Scotland or Ukraine could join England, Iran and USA in Group B at 2022 World Cup; tournament takes place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18; hosts to face Ecuador in opening game; holders France grouped with Denmark; Spain and Germany drawn together in Group E
Posted Saturday, April 02, 2022 by Skysports.com
England will play Scotland or Wales in Group B if either of them qualify for the World Cup in Qatar
England have been drawn against USA, Iran, and the winners of the play-off between Wales and Scotland or Ukraine in Group B at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Gareth Southgate's side know they will kick-off their World Cup campaign against Iran on November 21 before facing the United States in their second game on November 25, but their third group-stage opponents are currently unknown.
England will be up against either Scotland, Wales, or Ukraine on November 29, with that play-off path due to be settled in June due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The tournament's opening game will see hosts Qatar face Ecuador in Al Khor on November 21. Kick-off times and venues for the remaining group-stage matches are yet to be decided.
2022 World Cup in Qatar draw
Holders France - who could meet England in the quarter-finals, providing both sides win their groups - were drawn in Group D alongside Denmark and Tunisia, and begin their defence against the winners of Intercontinental play-off 1 - United Arab Emirates, Australia or Peru.
Meanwhile, 2010 winners Spain and 2014 winners Germany were paired against each other in Group E alongside Japan and one of Costa Rica and New Zealand - who will compete in the second Intercontinental play-off later this year.
Four-time winners Brazil have been grouped with Switzerland and Serbia, both of whom who they faced at the same stage in 2018, and Cameroon. The Selecao's rivals Argentina were matched with Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland.
Gareth Southgate's Three Lions will face USA, Iran and one of Scotland, Wales or Ukraine
Louis van Gaal, who has spoken out against the decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar, will face the hosts with his Netherlands side in Group A, which also features Ecuador and Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal.
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will face Uruguay, Canada and South Korea, while Belgium - ranked second in the world - will take on Ghana, Morocco and Croatia.
2022 World Cup draw in full
Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, European play-off*
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Intercontinental play-off 1**, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Intercontinental play-off 2***, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Ghana, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Canada, Uruguay, South Korea
*European play-off - Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
**Intercontinental play-off 1 - United Arab Emirates/Australia/Peru
***Intercontinental play-off 2 - Costa Rica/New Zealand
Southgate: We have to get out of the group
England manager Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC Sport:
"USA and Iran are teams we've not played for a while and the third is an unknown but throws up a possible British derby - and we know what they are all about.
"We've got to get out of the group. Out first objective is to get out of the group and then we build from there.
"In this situation all of our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, so when that tie is played out is irrelevant really.
"When you're seeded you get the advantage of missing out on those big six or seven teams. Most of the first seeds would be pleased with the group they get. There are some highly-ranked teams in pot two. The USA are an interesting one. They've got some very good players and we know what they could be capable of, so that one in particular is an intriguing one."
Neville: England fixtures tough from emotional perspective
Former England defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville:
"Scotland was a very difficult game in the last Euros. Wales, we just nipped past them a few years ago but Wales ended up going a lot further.
"So those games are really challenging for England - always have been. We know how much it means to the Welsh, the Scottish to play against England - that's not being arrogant, we just know it's a huge fixture.
"I'm looking forward to the group. They've all got a meaning to them but they are difficult games from an emotional perspective more than a football perspective, and that does carry something of a problem for England."
What is the World Cup format and schedule?
The 2022 World Cup will feature 32 teams in eight groups of four.
Four matches will be played each day during the group stage, which will run over a 12-day period and see winners and runners-up progress to the round of 16.
Matches will only be assigned to particular venues after the finals draw, so organisers can choose optimal kick-off times to suit television audiences in different countries, as well as supporters out in Qatar.
Unlike at Euro 2020, there will be a third-place play-off game on December 17.
Group stage
Monday November 21
Group A: Qatar vs Ecuador (Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick off 10am)
Group A: Senegal vs Netherlands
Group B: England vs Iran
Group B: USA vs Scotland/Wales/Ukraine
Tuesday November 22
Group C: Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
Group C: Mexico vs Poland
Group D: France vs UAE/Australia/Peru
Group D: Denmark vs Tunisia
Wednesday November 23
Group E: Spain vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group E: Germany vs Japan
Group F: Belgium vs Canada
Group F: Morocco vs Croatia
Thursday November 24
Group G: Brazil vs Serbia
Group G: Switzerland vs Cameroon
Group H: Portugal vs Ghana
Group H: Uruguay vs South Korea
Friday November 25
Group A: Qatar vs Senegal
Group A: Netherlands vs Ecuador
Group B: England vs USA
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs Iran
Saturday November 26
Group C: Argentina vs Mexico
Group C: Poland vs Saudi Arabia
Group D: France vs Denmark
Group D: Tunisia vs UAE/Australia/Peru
Sunday November 27
Group E: Spain vs Germany
Group E: Japan vs Costa Rica/New Zealand
Group F: Belgium vs Morocco
Group F: Croatia vs Canada
Monday November 28
Group G: Brazil vs Switzerland
Group G: Cameroon vs Serbia
Group H: Portugal vs Uruguay
Group H: South Korea vs Ghana
Tuesday November 29
Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar
Group A: Ecuador vs Senegal
Group B: Scotland/Wales/Ukraine vs England
Group B: Iran vs USA
Wednesday November 30
Group C: Poland vs Argentina
Group C: Saudi Arabia vs Mexico
Group D: Tunisia vs France
Group D: UAE/Australia/Peru vs Denmark
Thursday December 1
Group E: Japan vs Spain
Group E: Costa Rica/New Zealand vs Germany
Group F: Croatia vs Belgium
Group F: Canada vs Morocco
Friday, December 2
Group G: Cameroon vs Brazil
Group G: Serbia vs Switzerland
Group H: South Korea vs Portugal
Group H: Ghana vs Uruguay
Round of 16
Saturday December 3
49 - Winners of Group A vs. Runners-up of Group B (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
50 - Winners of Group C vs. Runners-up of Group D (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 7pm)
Sunday December 4
52 - Winners of Group D vs. Runners-up of Group C (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
51 - Winners of Group B vs. Runners-up of Group A (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Monday December 5
53 - Winners of Group E vs. Runners-up of Group F (Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah; kick-off 3pm)
54 - Winners of Group G vs. Runners-up of Group H (Stadium 974, Doha; kick-off 7pm)
Tuesday December 6
55 - Winners of Group F vs. Runners-up of Group E (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
56 - Winners of Group H vs. Runners-up of Group G (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Quarter-finals
Friday December 9
58 - Winners of 53 vs. Winners of 54 (Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
57 - Winners of 49 vs. Winners of 50 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; 3pm)
Saturday December 10
60 - Winners of 55 vs. Winners of 56 (Al Thumama Stadium, Doha; kick-off 3pm)
59 - Winners of 51 vs. Winners of 52 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Semi-finals
Tuesday December 13
61 - Winners of 57 vs. Winners of 58 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
Wednesday December 14
62 - Winners of 59 vs. Winners of 60 (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor; kick-off 7pm)
Third-place play-off
Saturday December 17
63 - Losers of 61 vs. Losers of 62 (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan; kick-off 3pm)
Final
Sunday December 18
64 - Winners of 61 vs. Winners of 62 (Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail; kick-off 7pm)
What will happen with the Premier League?
The Premier League has confirmed key dates for the 2022/23 campaign, with the season adjusted to accommodate a World Cup that takes place in the middle of the domestic calendar.
The season will start a week earlier than normal on August 6 2022, with 16 matchdays taking place up to the weekend of November 12/13, before the tournament kicks off on November 21.
The Premier League will resume on Boxing Day following the World Cup final, which takes place on December 18.
The final match round of the 2022/23 season will be played on May 28 2023.
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