The Constantine Palace in St. Petersburg will be the venue for this evenings 2018 World Cup group stage draw. The group stages for all involved confederations will be held with the European group stage draw expected to be carried out at approximately 1700 CET. There are still 1055 days before the tournament gets under way.
Spain will be in Pot 1 which means that Del Bosque’s side will avoid the likes of: Germany, England, Portugal and Holland. However two of Europe’s traditionally strongest sides lurk in Pot 2 and the Spanish coach will be anxious to avoid Italy and France in the group phase.
There are 14 European places up for grabs at the 2018 tournament and with the hosts already guaranteed their place in the tournament, the other 13 berths will be filled by the top side in each of the nine groups alongside the four play-off winners.
The European leg of the World Cup draw will see 52 teams divided into seven groups of six teams and two groups of five, nine group winners will automatically progress.
One of the runners-up will not even be guaranteed a place in the play-offs as it is only the best eight second-placed sides that will enter the knock-out competition for the four remaining places.
The qualifying stage will take place from September 4, 2016 through to November 14, 2017. UEFA has organized the qualifying stage with a new ‘Football Week’ format which will see games played from Thursday through to the following Tuesday with established kick-off times of 18:00 and 20:45 (CET).
Russian supermodel, Natalia Vodianova and TV presenter will oversee this evenings event along with footballing legends such as: Ronaldo, Cannavaro, Forlán and Etoo. There will be 2.000 guests and local Russian ballet and dance will be represented with live performances.
Pot 1: Germany (holders), Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain, Croatia
Pot 2: Slovakia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Denmark, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pot 3: Ukraine, Scotland, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Albania, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Greece
Pot 4: Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Republic of Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Estonia
Pot 5: Cyprus, Latvia, Armenia, Finland, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova
Pot 6: Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Andorra
Bye to finals: Russia (hosts)