US, England and Iran grouped together in WC draw

The United States, England and Iran have been thrown together in Group B, while Spain will take on Germany in a clash of former winners in Group E, as the draw for this year’s World Cup in Qatar laid the ground for some dramatic storylines.

Holders France will meet Denmark and Tunisia in Group D, while the tournament will kick off on November 21 with the hosts, Qatar, playing Ecuador.

For the US, the draw pits them against their former colonial rulers, England, and – in Iran – a country they have had long-running political disputes with. The fourth team in the group will be either Ukraine, Wales or Scotland, with qualifying games involving those teams having been delayed by Russia’s military campaign against its neighbour.

The US faced Iran at the 1998 World Cup in France, losing 2-1 to the Gulf nation. The US and England drew 1-1 in the 2010 World Cup.

In Group G, five-times World Cup winners Brazil are joined by Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon. Group C, meanwhile, includes both Argentina and Poland, pitting Ballon d’Or holder Lionel Messi against Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, current Fifa’s ‘Best player in the world’.

The draw came after a 45-minute musical and video show as Fifa president Gianni Infantino promised the event would “simply be the best tournament ever”.

The decision in 2010 to hand the hosting rights to Qatar was heavily criticised then and since and there has been intense scrutiny of the human rights situation in the country.

Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani welcomed guests including national team coaches, World Cup-winning players and football officials before a ceremony presented by two Britons, the actor Idris Elba and the broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury.

The tournament will run from November 21 to December 18 – the first time football’s top prize has been contested in those months, or in the Middle East.

Reacting to his side’s draw, England coach Gareth Southgate told the BBC: “(The US and Iran)… are teams we’ve not played for a while and the third is an unknown but throws up a possible British derby.

“In this situation all of our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, so when that tie is played out is irrelevant really.

“For us we’re (playing) on day one so it’s quite clear now what our programme looks like with the end of the Premier League season and getting out here as quickly as possible.” (Reuters)