The biggest sporting event of 2018 will be the FIFA World Cup, which will take place on the fields of Russia from June 14 to July 15. There is still a lot of time before the start of "", and at this stage, fans of the football game from all over the world are waiting for the end of the World Cup qualifying games, and then the draw for the final stage.
32 teams will take part in the final part of the World Cup 2018, of which 31 will be determined by the results of qualifications and 1 team is the host of the tournament, that is, Russia. For the first time in the history of the World Cup, 210 teams took part in the qualification process. The debutants of the qualifying matches were the national teams of Kosovo, Sudan, Gibraltar, Bunat and South Sudan. The qualifying round of the World Cup will end at the end of November 2017, according to the results of which the 31 best national teams will receive trips to Russia.
Where and when will the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw take place?
According to official FIFA data, the 2018 World Cup draw will take place December 1, 2017 in the Kremlin... The choice of this particular site underscores the importance of this event for the Russian government.
The drawing of lots will take place in the State Kremlin Palace - in the building that is now used as a concert hall.
Based on the results of the draw, 8 groups of 4 teams in each will be determined. In the 1/8 finals of the World Cup, the teams that took the first and second places in the group will come out.
World Cup matches will take place at 12 stadiums in 11 cities of Russia: Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Saransk and Kaliningrad.
The Russian national team will play in the first match of the World Cup on June 14, 2018, since according to the regulations it is the hostess of the tournament who must play the first meeting. This will be the only game on the opening day of the tournament, but on the rest of the days during the group stage, there will be 3 or 4 games.
The draw for the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup is taking place in the Moscow Kremlin, or rather, in the Grand Kremlin Palace, on December 1, 2017. Russia is hosting the main tournament for the first time in history, and Moscow is hosting the draw ceremony for the first time. The teams are divided into four baskets according to the FIFA rating.
GROUPS
А: RUSSIA, URUGUAY, EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA
Matches - 1 round (Moscow): Saudi Arabia, 2 round (Petersburg): Russia - Egypt, 3 round (Samara): Russia - Uruguay
B: PORTUGAL, SPAIN, IRAN, MOROCCO
C: FRANCE, PERU, DENMARK, AUSTRALIA
D: ARGENTINA, CROATIA, ICELAND, NIGERIA
E: BRAZIL, SWITZERLAND, COSTA RICA, SERBIA
F: GERMANY, MEXICO, SWEDEN, SOUTH KOREA
G: BELGIUM, ENGLAND, TUNISIA, PANAMA
H: POLAND, COLOMBIA, SENEGAL, JAPAN
Let's say goodbye! Our correspondents are already preparing materials for you based on the results of the draw. Thank you for your attention, and we are waiting for the World Championship! Ticket sales will resume on 5 December.
20:30 - A little humor. There are already many funny captions for this photo of Maradona. We think it's clear why.
20:25 - It is curious to sum up our and your forecasts. Roman Askhabadze was the closest of the experts. He predicted / wanted such a group: Croatia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. Two hits out of three. Few expected Uruguay. Only Anatoly Fedorovich Byshovets.
As for your reader's version of the ideal group, it was like this: Peru, Tunisia, Panama. At the same time, Egypt and Saudi Arabia from the third and fourth baskets were the third and second most popular in your choice. But Uruguay wanted to be rivals only 6%.
20:17 - We have already prepared for you a summary of the most important information about our group rivals. Read it!
The main thing about the rivals of the Russian national team in the group at the 2018 World Cup
Mysterious Arabs, stubborn Africans and hot Latinos. World Championship classic. What else is needed for the show?
20:12 - There are already quotes for our group. Uruguay is considered the favorite of the group, you can bet that it will be the first with a coefficient of 2.0. Russia's exit to the 1/8 finals from the first place is quoted for 2.2. With odds of 7.5, you can bet on Egypt to win in Group A, Saudi Arabia's chances of such a result are quoted at 34.0.
20:05 - Vitaly Mutko also shared his opinion on the results of the draw:
- It is difficult to predict what will happen in our group. The group is fairly even, giving chances to all teams. Uruguay is a serious team, included in the list of the top teams in the world. Egypt has several world-class players - for example, Salah. We do not know much about Saudi Arabia, but we will prepare. Such a group, which was caught by the Russian national team, is normal. It all depends on ourselves.
Here Egyptian journalists asked Vitaly Leontievich in English - about Salah.
- Is a very good player - fantastic! Top player, - Mutko was not taken aback. - Will he score a goal? Listen, soccer is a team game.
19:56 - Let's continue on the layouts. This time, there is no "death group" as such. There is Spain - Portugal in the same quartet, there is a strong group F and an interesting D, but otherwise everything is smooth and unremarkable. And group H is frankly weak for a tournament of this level. However, for an outside observer, ours is not a fountain either.
19:41 - Stanislav Cherchesov:
- It is impossible to say after the draw whether I am satisfied or not. What group is, such is. Emotions both before and now are the same. He smiled when they pulled Uruguay, because they asked us to hold a test match, but we still didn’t agree. They chased us and got it anyway ( smiles).
I’m ahead of your questions: I don’t know any team, since I’ve never met any of them, I didn’t look after them on purpose. I know that Salah plays in the Egyptian national team, I will watch him in the Liverpool - Spartak match. Uruguay has Cavani and Suarez, but these are all just names. Now you can talk about anything, but everything shows the field. The only thing that catches your eye is that our games, one might say, are increasing. Here, perhaps, I emphasize - perhaps there is some kind of bonus. But everything will be decided by the field.
19:39 - Pele is not walking now. And here is such a touching photo ...
19:35. And now there will be comments from the coaches.
19:30. The celebration and summing up continues on the stage.
19:25. It is worth noting that after the terrorist attack over Sinai on October 31, 2015, in which Russian tourists were killed, flights between Egypt and Russia were suspended. Now this question will have to be solved, since we are playing with the Egyptians in the same group.
19:15 - The time has come ... for predictions!
19:12 - All the stars of the drawing ceremony in the photo gallery of our correspondent Alexander Safonov.
19:10 - We are not going anywhere, now the comments of the coaches from the mixed zone will go.
19:07 - There will be no fiery matches and no influx of fans in Saransk. Maybe it's for the best. Although one tough guest will still come to them - Ronaldo and his Portugal will play here with Iran.
19:03
- Here's another pattern - Argentina and Nigeria always go in pairs. 5 group meetings in 24 years!
1994 - Argentina and Nigeria in one group
2002 - Argentina and Nigeria in one group
2010 - Argentina and Nigeria in one group
2014 - Argentina and Nigeria in one group
2018 - Argentina and Nigeria in one group
19:02
- While Larisa Dolina is singing, completing the ceremony, let's look at other interesting matches and groups.
England will play in Volgograd, Nizhny and Kaliningrad. And on the shores of the Baltic - with Belgium. The fans have an almost European exit.
18:59 - So. Our group is quite digestible. But then ... Spain or Portugal - there are hardly any surprises here.
18:57 - That's all! Time to analyze the results!
18:53 - Thanks to two teams from Europe in Group B, Serbia will pass us in 1/8 (if both come out). Brazil - Serbia - and again a cool match at Otkritie in the 3rd round!
18:51 - Everything! There is a composition of the group! Opening match at Luzhniki Stadium - Russia - Saudi Arabia. The audience welcomes the balloon with the Arabians with applause.
18:48 - Argentina - Iceland - a very cool match at Otkritie in the first round. Do not miss!
18:45 - Russia - Egypt! Second round! Peter!
18:43 - England is going to the group against Belgium and will play the first match in Volgograd. With whom - we do not know yet.
18:41 - Cavani and Suarez in Samara! Against Jikia and Vasin! We continue to be aware. After two fiery groups, it is quieter further.
18:40 - And Spain and Portugal will play in the first round in Sochi!
18:39 - Russia and Uruguay will play in the last round group tournament in Samara. Play for first place, perhaps.
18:38 - Now we will find out the first rival ... Anticipation! URUGUAY!
18:36 - But Argentina and Brazil will not meet in the 1/8 finals. But Brazil and Germany - can ...
18:33 - To begin with, we are interested in our group, and then in group B, with the teams of which we can meet in the playoffs. Portugal is number one there.
18:30 - Let's go get the balls! Nikita Pavlovich starts from Russia in group A. Simonyan is greeted with ovation.
18:28 - Gary Lineker and Maria Command on the stage. “Are you ready, Maria? Because if not, it's not too late ... ", - jokes Ivan Urgant... Look, by the way, who led the draw before our Masha.
Sophia Loren and our Masha. Who was trusted to lead the draw of the World Championships
Journalist Maria Komandnaya will be the host of the 2018 World Cup draw. Before her, such an honor was given to actresses and professional models.
18:25 - And now draw assistants appear on the stage, who will drag the balls - Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Fabio Cannavaro, Cafu, Diego Maradona, Carles Puyol, Diego Forlan and Nikita Simonyan.
18:22 - The show program is in full swing. Now the Igor Moiseyev folk dance ensemble danced right against the background of the World Cup.
18:15 - Alsou sang. Not just as the host they called her. But the singer quickly rebuilt and is already asking questions to Miroslav Klose, who brought the World Cup trophy to the stage. And recently the trophy visited the office of the Championship ...
18:10 - The astronauts give the countdown! A cool video shows the path that has passed from the victory of Russia in the elections of the host country of the World Cup to the present.
18:07 - Gianni Infantino speaks Russian! “Vladimir Putin, other friends, good evening, welcome to Moscow. Thank you, Russia ”... Not only Vitaly Mutko has been learning a foreign language all these years.
18:06 - Vladimir Putin: “Friendship, sport, fair fight - these values are not subject to any conjuncture. But the winner will not be determined by chance, but by skill, the will to win. Good luck and all the best to everyone! We are waiting in Russia in 2018! "
18:05 - Vladimir Putin: “We are waiting for the guests of our country not only to enjoy the holiday of football, but also to get acquainted with our country. The World Cup will be held in 11 cities, and fans will be able to look at different regions of our huge and diverse country. Anyone who has come to Russia at least once knows how we can receive guests. "
18:02 - Two presidents are invited to the stage - Vladimir Putin and Gianni Infantino.
18:00 - Go! On stage, the presenters - Ivan Urgant and Alsou.
17:55 - Until the broadcast has started, some more exclusive angles. For example, from a commentary position. Well, re-read again everything you need to know about the drawing of lots.
17:51 - Stanislav Cherchesov and Victoria Lopyreva are practically hospitable hosts today. Not the Kremlin, of course, but our football. Photo from the red carpet.
16:50 - Our coaches are coming. There is a red carpet for the guests of honor.
16:37 - The theory of probability in action, or the calculation of the chances that one or another opponent will fall out to us.
16:31 - Since it is tense with permission to shoot a video at the draw, foreigners are actively filming Russian journalists. Here is our Dmitry Egorov talked with the Dutch, for example.
16:20 - Lucky foreigners with the weather (well, if they are ready for the cold weather). Near zero, pleasant snow - in such conditions the Kremlin and Red Square are especially beautiful. There is also a Christmas market already running there. There many whiled away the time during the day.
16:14 - Choose the group of your dreams for Russia. Simple, complex - any.
16:06 - Our draw assistants are very cool today. Could star football team turn out.
16:01 - We start our online. In the Kremlin, everything, or almost everything, is already ready for the drawing of lots.
The balls will be removed from the baskets in order, starting with the first. According to the standard procedure, first a ball with the name of the team is taken out, and then the ball with the designation of the group and a number that indicates the ordinal number of the team in the corresponding group.
This is how bookmakers assess the chances of the Russian national team to get one or another national team as their rivals.
The start of the drawing ceremony - 18:00.
Live Stream- First channel.
Leading ceremonies- Gary Lineker and Maria Command.
Show host- Ivan Urgant.
Our correspondents Dmitry Egorov, Ivan Karpov and Mikhail Tyapkov, as well as photojournalist Alexander Safonov, work at the scene and will tell and show everything that TV will bypass.
Foreign colleagues who came to cover the draw were pleasantly surprised long before the ceremony itself. Because working in such an environment is the dream of a tourist-journalist. Through the Spasskaya Tower - if they are lucky, they also get to the Kremlin under the chimes. Further - a short walk past the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon with views of the most beautiful temples of the country. The main thing is not to forget about the final destination of the trip and get to the Kremlin Palace. To admire also a panoramic view of the snow-covered green roofs from the sixth floor, the press center was organized under the very top.
The main football event of the four years begins in the most important place in Russia hosting the tournament - symbolically and very effectively.
The ceremony itself will last only an hour, but it is she who will determine the plans of a huge number of people for the next six months. It will be hosted by Ivan Urgant, and the actual drawing procedure will be conducted by the famous Englishman Gary Lineker and our sports journalist Maria Komandnaya. At the same time, the entire elite of world football will gather in the hall of the Kremlin Palace. For example, the head coaches of all 32 teams that made it to the tournament received invitations.
And only two did not respond. Uruguay's mentor won't come, and Australia simply doesn't have a coach now. All the rest flew to Moscow in advance and yesterday already took part in a seminar for the participating teams.
The live broadcast of the draw will begin at 18.00 Moscow time on Channel One
There are enough stars in addition to the coaches, and they come not only to admire the beauty of the Russian capital. Diego Maradona, Laurent Blanc, Fabio Cannavaro, Carles Puyol - these legendary personalities, for example, will take part in the draw as assistants. And the famous Frenchman, world champion-98 Marcel Desailly, together with the ex-striker of the Russian national team Alexander Kerzhakov, now act as ambassadors of the fan festival. Of course, both could not avoid questions about the upcoming draw.
I do not like forecasts, - admitted Kerzhakov. - The home world championship is a tournament in which your walls can help. The Confederations Cup showed it. I am sure that the Russian national team will make it out of the group. And we'll see.
Many football celebrities will participate in the 2018 World Cup draw ceremony. Among them is Uruguayan Diego Forlán (second from left). Photo: Sergey Savostyanov / TASS
Desailly added that the Russian national team lacks star players like Kerzhakov, and therefore a lot will depend on the fans: “The first games are very important for the team's confidence in the future in the tournament, and support is needed here. The fans helped us, the French, at the home world championship in 1998, thanks to them we became stronger. The fans must oblige the team to fight to the end. I hope your team will go far. "
It wasn't only Desailly who fought back with streamlined language. Journalists tried to find out from the famous Uruguayan Diego Forlan what lot he would like for his compatriots. But in response they heard the standard "there are no weak teams at such a tournament" and "it will be interesting with any opponent." It is clear that there is a grain of guile in these words.
The 32 teams are initially divided into four baskets based on their ranking. Russia is among the seeded, but not for merits on the football field, but as a hostess. And even a cursory glance at the resulting baskets is enough to understand that the strength of teams gathered in one company is completely different, so you can get both a "life group" and a "death group". By the way, even football people have no consensus about which option is preferable.
With inquiries, we went to the ex-player of the Russian national team Dmitry Cheryshev, who came to the draw as the ambassador of the world championship from Nizhny Novgorod.
Dmitry, what opponents would you like for the Russian national team?
Dmitry Cheryshev: I would like to see strong teams. Because it is with a strong rival that you always show your best game, good mood. And you can still leave the group.
Stars such as Maradona, Blanc, Puyol and Cannavaro will determine the fate of 32 teams participating in the 2018 World Cup
At the Confederations Cup, we got strong rivals, Portugal and Mexico, and as a result, the national team could not leave the group.
Dmitry Cheryshev: Then these were the first steps of ours in serious international matches under the leadership of Stanislav Cherchesov. I think we tested the team. By the way, last match played pretty well at the Confederations Cup. The team is in good condition, was interesting game against the Spanish national team. To score three goals to such an opponent is worth a lot. Even if the Spaniards brought in a sub-optimal squad, any footballer who defends her colors is still a level. Therefore, in my opinion, we are on the right path, and only victories await us.
You are the world championship ambassador from Nizhny Novgorod. What fans and what teams would you like to see in your city?
Dmitry Cheryshev: First of all, Hispanics. I would like our fans to see how they support their own. I saw Chile and Mexico fans at the Confederations Cup, enjoyed this atmosphere and would like to see the same celebration during the World Cup in our city.
On Friday, December 1, in the heart of the capital of Russia - the State Kremlin Palace - the draw for the final stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will take place. The ceremony starts at 18:00, the live broadcast will take place on Channel One.
The draw ceremony will be hosted by former England striker, 1986 World Cup top scorer Gary Lineker, assisted by Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya.
Legendary footballers Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Fabio Cannavaro, Cafu, Diego Maradona, Carles Puyol and Diego Forlán will appear on the stage of the State Kremlin Palace as eight assistants to Gary Lineker. Together with Miroslav Klose, who will bring the FIFA World Cup Cup onto the stage during the draw, they will represent the eight World Cup winning countries. The eighth draw assistant will be the legend of the Soviet and Russian football, the first vice-president of the RFU Nikita Simonyan, who spoke at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. The hall will be attended by representatives of all national teams participating in the tournament, celebrities, public figures and functionaries.
In preparation for the draw, the teams were split into four baskets according to the FIFA / Coca-Cola World Rankings (as of October 2017). The first basket includes the seven best national teams in accordance with the world table of ranks, as well as the national team of the host country of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Basket 1: RUSSIA, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France;
Basket 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia;
Basket 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran;
Basket 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia.
Additional terms.
1. The Russian national team as the host country will receive the designation “Team A1” (that is, the first team in group A) during the draw and will be designated with a red ball in basket 1.
2. The remaining seven teams in basket 1 will be assigned to groups (from B to H) and will automatically receive a sequential number 1 in each of them. The sequence numbers of the teams from baskets 2, 3 and 4 will be determined by drawing lots.
3. As a general FIFA principle, each group can have a maximum of one team from one continental zone. This rule applies to all zones except the UEFA zone, which is represented by 14 teams. Each group must have at least one but not more than two European teams. Thus, six of the eight groups will have two European teams. The division of teams into groups on a geographical basis will be controlled by a special system that will take into account all factors, therefore, during the procedure for determining the places of teams in groups, individual groups may be skipped. For example, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay - the teams from Pot 2 - will definitely not be in the same group as Brazil or Argentina, which are in Pot 1. The same rule applies to teams from other confederations than UEFA.
The Russian national team will play the first group stage match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on June 14 at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. Then our team under the leadership of Stanislav Cherchesov will perform on June 19 at the Krestovsky arena in St. Petersburg, and then will play on the 25th at the new stadium in Samara.
If Russia takes first place in the group, then in the 1/8 finals it will fight the second team from Quartet B (June 30, Fisht Stadium, Sochi). At the same time, if the Russian squad finishes second in group, then in the 1/8 finals it will fight with the winner of group B (July 1, Luzhniki, Moscow).
On Friday, the State Kremlin Palace hosted the draw for the group stage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup final, which will be held in Russia for the first time in history.
32 teams participating in the World Cup, including Russia, had to find out their rivals, as well as the cities to which they would go.
According to the results of the draw, it became known that the Russians will play in Group A with the teams of Uruguay, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The World Cup hosts will play the opening match on June 14 at Luzhniki with the Saudis, then on June 19 they will meet with the Egyptians in St. Petersburg. Stanislav Cherchesov's charges will play against representatives of Uruguay on June 25 in Samara.
It is curious that for the first time in the opening match of the world championships, the participants with the lowest rating will play - the Russians occupy 65th place in the world table of ranks, and the Saudi Arabian team - 63rd.
The German national team, which will start the tournament as the reigning world champion, will play in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.
The Portuguese team, the reigning European champion, has entered Quartet B with Spain, Morocco and Iran.
The ceremony was broadcast online on the official website International Federation football (FIFA), as well as the First channel of federal television.
It was watched in more than 200 countries around the world in different time zones. The draw was accompanied by a colorful show program led by singer Alsou and Ivan Urgant.
The first to go up the stage for a welcoming speech were Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA head Gianni Infantino. The head of state assured the guests that Russia intends to host the World Championship at the highest level. Infantino, in turn, thanked the hosts for the excellent organization of the tournament.
"We will do our best to make the 2018 World Cup a grandiose sports event, but, most importantly, we will further rally a large and friendly international sports family - a family for which the most important thing is sport itself, friendship and fair struggle, whose values are beyond the control of any current conjuncture," - quotes the Russian leader TASS.
Gianni Infantino expressed confidence that football fans from all over the world will be convinced of the hospitality of Russia in the summer.
"In the summer of 2018, 1.5 million people will come here. They will see that Russia is a warm country, that its residents are very much looking forward to the football holiday. I am sure that the experience of hosting the World Cup will be positive for Russia," the FIFA President said.
After the speeches of the first persons, the guests were introduced to the World Cup by a delegate from reigning champions World German Miroslav Klose. Then the official drawing ceremony began.
The renowned footballers led by Argentinean Diego Maradona were entrusted with getting the balls out of the baskets.
The draw assistants were also the participant of the 1958 World Cup, the first for the USSR, Nikita Simonyan, the Italian Fabio Cannavaro, the Frenchman Laurent Blanc, the Englishman Gordon Banks, the Brazilian Cafu, the Spaniard Carles Puyol and the Uruguayan Diego Forlan.
Vladimir Putin spoke on the sidelines with guests who came to Moscow to take part in the event. He met with the legends of world football, including Diego Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, raising glasses of champagne with the players.
Main coach of the Russian national football team Stanislav Cherchesov in an interview with the official FIFA channel on YouTube shared in advance his expectations from the final draw for the 2018 World Cup.
“The expectations are simple, a lot has been passed in a football career. Therefore, there are no special expectations or desires. There are absolutely no preferences. Calmly we must wait for whoever we will get. The mood is very good,” said Cherchesov.
After the qualifying tournament for the 2018 World Cup finally ended with intercontinental play-offs and all the participants in the group stage became known, the teams were assigned to the baskets for the draw according to the October FIFA ranking.
During the draw, eight groups of four teams were designated from A to H, with the teams from each basket assigned to different groups.
The Russian national team, as the organizer of the tournament, got into the first basket, although it occupies the lowest position in the ranking (65th place) among all the participants. It was known in advance that Stanislav Cherchesov's team would lead Group A and avoid meeting strong neighbors in the first basket at the group stage.
One group could have no more than two national teams from Europe, as well as no more than one team from the following confederations: Asia, Africa, Oceania, North and Central America, South America.
The 2018 World Cup matches will be held from June 14 to July 15, 2018 in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Sochi and Saransk.
