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 15:42 · Karl Matchett]

WHO GOES WHERE

The plan is to draw one nation at a time in Pot order, and that nation goes straight into the next available Group in alphabetical order.

So if England are out first, they’ll be Group A, then it could be Spain Group B, Germany Group C…and so on. The entirety of each Pot will be drawn before moving on to the next, so it should be quick and easy to start with.

But, you know, it’s FIFA…so there are complications to come afterwards.

[7 December 2020 15:38 · Karl Matchett]

DRAW PROCESS

So from the 10 groups, we’ll have either five or six nations in each group: five in A to E, six in F to J. The ‘extra’ six there will come from Pot Six teams, more commonly referred to as the minnows of European football - Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar and San Marino.

For ‘our’ nations, England are in Pot 1, Wales are Pot 2, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland are in Pot 3.

[7 December 2020 15:35 · Karl Matchett]

RULES AND PROCEDURES

Let’s go over a few of the points which we can expect, shall we?

We have Groups A to J, with 55 teams to be drawn in total. After qualification is done, 13 of them will head to the finals in Qatar.

[7 December 2020 15:21 · Karl Matchett]

COUNTDOWN

Afternoon all, a big day for the managers and for the fans who look (far, far) ahead - here starts the planning of the road to glory two years down the line.

Qatar 2022 will be played in the winter for us British folk, remember, so precisely two years from today we’ll actually be on a rest day at the conclusion of the Round of 16! Will England and the other home nations still be in the running? Will they get there at all?

We’ll find out how difficult the first part of the task will be in a couple of hours.

[7 December 2020 15:11 · Jack Rathborn]

World Cup qualifying draw date, time and England’s potential opponents

The 2022 World Cup is on the horizon with teams around the world waiting for the qualifying draw to discover their path to Qatar. The World Cup will start on 21 November and end on 18 December 2022 in Qatar.

Holders France remain one of the world’s best and will be eager to add a third World Cup, though there is no shortage of contenders, with Belgium, the No 1 side in Fifa’s rankings, Spain and England showing promising signs, and the depth in Europe mightily impressive overall.

European champions Portugal, Italy and Spain are also likely to be in contention, should they all qualify.