World Cup 2022: U.S. draws England, Iran and UEFA playoff winner in group play

The U.S. will play England, Iran and the winner of a three-team UEFA playoff in group play at this fall’s World Cup in Qatar. The match draw for the 29 certified groups was held Friday on the Doha Exhibition and Conference Heart. Three extra groups will likely be added to the sphere in a collection of playoffs this spring.

Defending champion France, ranked third on the planet by FIFA, was drawn into Group D alongside Denmark, Tunisia and the winner of an intercontinental playoff for the primary spherical whereas five-time champion Brazil, the No. 1 staff on the planet, will play in Group G with Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon. The reigning champions haven’t made it out of group play since 2006.

The primary fall World Cup — and first to be performed within the Center East — will kick off Nov. 21 with host Qatar assembly Ecuador. The ultimate will likely be performed Dec. 18.

The U.S. is returning to the World Cup for the primary time since 2014 after grabbing the third and closing qualifying spot within the CONCACAF qualifying match on Wednesday. Canada completed first, edging second-place Mexico on aim differential.

Mexico was drawn in Group C alongside Lionel Messi’s Argentina, Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and Saudi Arabia.

No. 38-ranked Canada made its solely World Cup look in 1986 and didn’t win a recreation. It is going to play in a gaggle with Belgium and Croatia — among the many closing 4 groups 4 years in the past — and Morocco.

Group E options two of the final three World Cup winners in Spain and Germany, alongside Japan and an intercontinental playoff winner.

The highest two groups in every of the eight four-team teams in Qatar advance to the knockout rounds. Mexico, ranked ninth on the planet, has superior out of the group stage in each World Cup it has performed in since 1978 however has made it past the spherical of 16 simply as soon as throughout that span. The U.S., which can discipline the youngest staff in Qatar with a median age of 24, has made the second spherical in three of its final 4 World Cup appearances. It’s ranked fifteenth on the planet.

“The place to begin is getting out of the group, and when you try this, it’s match time, it’s knockout, single elimination, so something can occur,” coach Gregg Berhalter mentioned.

2022 World Cup draw

Group A

Qatar, Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador

Group B

England, U.S., Iran, UEFA playoff winner

Group C

Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabi

Group D

France, Denmark, Tunisia, intercontinental playoff winner

Group E

Spain, Germany, Japan, intercontinental playoff winner

Group F

Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada

Group G

Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon

Group H

Portugal, Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana