World Cup 2022 draw LIVE: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland learn qualifying fate

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as the other European teams discovered who stands between them and a place in Qatar

England have learnt 'so much' despite losses says Gareth Southgate

The 2022 World Cup draw is complete with European teams now knowing their opponents on the road to Qatar.

Gareth Southgate’s England were pulled out in Group I alongside Poland, who have faced the Three Lions in qualifying for the 1974, 1990, 1994, 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as taking on England in the finals in Mexico in 1986. England and Poland also met in qualifying for the 1992 and 2000 European Championships. They also face Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino in matches which will be played between March and November next year.

Scotland are up against Denmark, Austria, Israel, the Faroe Islands and Moldova in Group F as they seek a first World Cup qualification since 1998. The Scots lost to Israel in a Nations League match last month.

The Republic of Ireland face reigning European champions Portugal, as well as Serbia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan in Group A, while Northern Ireland face a tough group against Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Lithuania.

Follow live reaction and analysis from the draw in Zurich:

• England face Poland, Hungary and Albania in Group I
• Scotland meet Denmark, Austria and Israel in Group F
• Northern Ireland pulled out with Italy and Switzerland
• Wales take on world number one Belgium
• Republic of Ireland drawn with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal

World Cup 2022 draw

• Qualifying draw complete for 2022 World Cup
• Games played March-November 2021
• Group winners progress, runners-up head into play-offs
• England to face Poland and Hungary; Wales in group with Belgium
• Tough draws for Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Republic of Ireland face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal

[7 December 2020 17:26 · Karl Matchett]

POT 1

France - Group D

England - Group I

[7 December 2020 17:25 · Karl Matchett]

POT 1

Italy - Group C

Croatia - Group H

[7 December 2020 17:24 · Karl Matchett]

POT 1

Denmark - Group F

Netherlands - Group G

(Groups C, D and E are left for Nations League finalists, remember)

[7 December 2020 17:23 · Karl Matchett]

Pot 1

Portugal - Group A

Spain - Group B

[7 December 2020 17:22 · Karl Matchett]

HERE WE GO!

Draw time finally! We go through Pot 1 remember - the ‘top seeds’ as such.

[7 December 2020 17:20 · Karl Matchett]

RULES TIME

Now FIFA are getting towards the real issues - explaining all the Pots and processes, just as we did for you hours ago. Need a reminder?

• Six Pots, each Pot emptied in turn with nations going straight into next available Group by alphabetical order
• Five Groups of five nations, five of six nations
• There are pairs of nations who cannot face each other, such as Russia and Ukraine
• Some nations can also not be paired due to weather or travel distance conditions
• In each case, any who cannot be paired will just go straight into the next available Group
• Nations League finalists go into the Groups of five nations

[7 December 2020 17:14 · Karl Matchett]

ALLEZ LES BLEUS

A nice little reminder there of what happened last time out in Russia - France lifting the trophy, England’s run to the semis, Croatia’s story, Belgium beating Brazil and more.

Draw time? Nearly, surely.

[7 December 2020 17:11 · Karl Matchett]

ONE TO AVOID?

Both ex-players say they’d most hope to avoid Spain. Interesting selection or a sign of their own era?

Spain have not quite hit the heights of late - they’ve won two of their last six in all competitions. They did top their Nations League group in the end though, thanks to a thumping of Germany in the last game.

[7 December 2020 17:06 · Karl Matchett]

ICONS

Predictably, we’ve got a video montage first. Just in case anybody forgot what a World Cup is.

Daniele De Rossi is the first guest and he is speaking first on Maradona’s impact in Italy.

Also arriving on the scene is Rafael van der Vaart, who walks onto the set accompanied by recorded screams and cheers as if he’s just bent one into the top corner from 30 yards.

[7 December 2020 17:02 · Karl Matchett]

WE ARE LIVE FROM ZURICH

A World Cup draw behind closed doors. Zurich must not even be Tier 2, eh? Only joking, of course…

Anyway, worth remembering this is just the UEFA draw coming up - the likes of CONMEBOL are already up and running with their qualifiers, for example. Brazil lead the way there after four games played already!