GROUP A
RUSSIA
SAUDI ARABIA
EGYPT
URUGUAYSaudi Arabia will be the first Asian team to play in the
World Cup curtain raiser when they face
hosts Russia, who were seeded top
for the first time, on 14 June.
World Cup curtain raiser when they face
hosts Russia, who were seeded top
for the first time, on 14 June.
GROUP B
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
MOROCCO
IR IRANHeavyweights and neighbours Portugal, top seeded
for the first time, and Spain are the last three
UEFA EURO winners (Spain in 2008/2012
and Portugal in 2016). IR Iran coach Carlos
Queiroz will face Portugal, the team he led
at the 2010 World Cup
for the first time, and Spain are the last three
UEFA EURO winners (Spain in 2008/2012
and Portugal in 2016). IR Iran coach Carlos
Queiroz will face Portugal, the team he led
at the 2010 World Cup
GROUP C
FRANCE
AUSTRALIA
PERU
DENMARKFrance will meet fellow European side Denmark
for the third time in the group stage after
1998 (France won 2-1) and 2002
(Denmark won 2-0).
for the third time in the group stage after
1998 (France won 2-1) and 2002
(Denmark won 2-0).
GROUP D
ARGENTINA
ICELAND
CROATIA
NIGERIAArgentina were the last non-top seeds to lift
the World Cup Trophy, when they did it in 1986.
Since that tournament, there has
been at least one European newcomer
at each World Cup (Iceland in 2018).
the World Cup Trophy, when they did it in 1986.
Since that tournament, there has
been at least one European newcomer
at each World Cup (Iceland in 2018).
GROUP E
BRAZIL
SWITZERLAND
COSTA RICA
SERBIACosta Rica head coach Oscar Ramirez played
against Brazil at the 1990 World Cup, when
Los Ticos lost narrowly 1-0 in Turin.
against Brazil at the 1990 World Cup, when
Los Ticos lost narrowly 1-0 in Turin.
GROUP F
GERMANY
MEXICO
SWEDEN
KOREA REPUBLICGroup F is the only group in which all of the
countries have hosted a previous World
Cup: Germany (1974, 2006), Mexico (1970,
1986), Sweden (1958) and Korea
Republic (2002).
countries have hosted a previous World
Cup: Germany (1974, 2006), Mexico (1970,
1986), Sweden (1958) and Korea
Republic (2002).
GROUP G
BELGIUM
PANAMA
TUNISIA
ENGLANDBelgium, England and Tunisia all went unbeaten
throughout World Cup qualifying. England
head coach Gareth Southgate played
against Tunisia at France 1998.
throughout World Cup qualifying. England
head coach Gareth Southgate played
against Tunisia at France 1998.
GROUP H
POLAND
SENEGAL
COLOMBIA
JAPANGroup H is the only group at Russia 2018 to not
contain a previous World Cup champion.
Three of the coaches Nawalka (POL),
Cisse (SEN), Halilhodzic (JPN) – the latter
of whom played for Yugoslavia in
1982 – have been players
at the World Cup.
contain a previous World Cup champion.
Three of the coaches Nawalka (POL),
Cisse (SEN), Halilhodzic (JPN) – the latter
of whom played for Yugoslavia in
1982 – have been players
at the World Cup.
