The World Cup draw is fast approaching, and while not all of the 32 teams have been confirmed, they have nonetheless all been seeded ahead of learning their fate.
32 teams will be placed into four pots of 8, from which one of each pot will be pitted together to create the 8 groups, the last time we will see this format ahead of the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams in 2026.
And while massive names like Italy, Colombia, Sweden and Norway have not made it to the finals stage, there are still plenty of mouthwatering ties that could lie in wait.
FBL-WC2022-EUR-QUALIFIER-ITA-MKD Italy’s forward Domenico Berardi sinks to his knees as Italy are knocked out by North Macedonia in the World Cup 2022 play off semi-final. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images).
So, who is seeded where?
Pot 1
World Ranking
Qatar
51
Brazil
1
Belgium
2
France
3
Argentina
4
England
5
Spain
7
Portugal
8
France v Croatia – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Final MOSCOW, RUSSIA – JULY 15: Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates with the World Cup trophy following the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Thanks to the pots being decided on FIFA World Rankings, the biggest teams in World Football will be sure to miss one another in the group stages at least, with the likes of England, Portugal, Spain, France and Brazil all able to avoid one another until the knockout rounds at the earliest.
Pot 2 is full of strong sides, with the Netherlands leading the charge with a youthful look to their side. They are joined by finalists four years ago Croatia, as well as Hansi Flick’s Germany side and Uruguay, who made the semi-finals in 2014. Also present are the USA, who qualified by the skin of their teeth.
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Pot 3
World Ranking Senegal
20
Iran
21
Japan
22
Morocco
24
Serbia
25
Poland
26
South Korea
29
Tunisia
35
20
21
22
24
25
26
29
35
There are some big names in pot 3, including AFCON winners Senegal, who knocked out Egypt on penalties once more to take their spot at the World Cup. Also present are tough to crack Serbia and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, all of whom could cause upsets.
Pot 4
World Ranking
Cameroon
37
Canada
38
Ecuador
46
Saudi Arabia
49
Ghana
60
Wales or Scotland/Ukraine
18 or 39/27
Costa Rica or New Zealand
31 or 101
Peru or Australia/UAE
22 or 42/68
Pot 4 is still largely unknown, with only 5 of the 8 sides certain to be travelling to Qatar in November. Chief among them are Cameroon and Ghana, both of whom are potentially sides that Pot 1 teams will want to avoid, while Canada will also be keen to impress in their first World Cup since 1986.
Who would be your dream draw?