All you need to know about the World Cup 2018 draw | OneFootball

So the draw for next year’s World Cup in Russia is over and done with and here’s our handy guide containing everything you need to know about it.

OK. Give me all the juicy gossip. What, where and when is the opening game?

The 2018 World Cup will get under way at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow when hosts Russia will take on Saudi Arabia on 14 June. Kick-off will be 18:00 local time.

And when is the final?

The tournament will finish where it started at the Luzhniki Stadium on Sunday 15 July. Again, kick-off will be 18:00 local time.

Speaking of the final, my grandfather has given me $500 to spend on groceries but I want to use it to bet. So who are the two teams that are going to be in there?

First of all, congratulations on the wealthy grandfather.

In answer to your extremely difficult question, I reckon the final will be a hugely entertaining spectacle contested by Brazil and Spain.

I hope I’m right, for your grandfather’s sake more than anything.

And speaking of the big teams, when are their first matches?

Well, Portugal and Spain will kick-off their tournaments against each other in Sochi on 15 June.

Argentina will feel the full force of Iceland’s thunder-clap in Moscow on the 16th.

Then defending world champions Germany are up against Mexico in Moscow on the 17th.

Brazil are up against Switzerland in Rostov-on-Don also on the 17th (book that one off work).

And finally, England face Tunisia in Volgograd on the 18th.

I am a big, big fan of well-worn cliches. What group would be the cliche group of death?

To be honest, there isn’t really a proper group of death to speak of this time around, meaning all the big nations should, in theory, make it through to the knock-out round.

Portugal and Spain being drawn together in Group B has got our juices flowing, however, while Group D (Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria) could be a close one.

England vs Belgium has the potential to be a good game and the Germans in our office reckon their group (Mexico, Sweden and South Korea) will be tricky but I’m not sure I believe them.

And if I were cool enough to be a football hipster, what team would be the one to look out for?

Belgium were very much the hipster’s nation of choice until they inexplicably hired one of football’s least hip men to be their coach.

So I’ve given my man-bun a twizzle, taken a big gulp of my chai latte and come to the conclusion that 2018’s hipster team will be…

(*drum roll*)

Mexico!

Don’t ask me why but it probably has a lot to do with that retro kit they’ll be donning and young Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano.

Somebody else suggested Iceland but if you ask me, 2016 is soooo passé.

Who could be dark horses?

This might shock you but I’m gonna go for Egypt.

They have one of the best players in the Premier League in Mohamed Salah and the amazing scenes following his penalty which booked their place at their first World Cup since 1990 touched us all.

I can’t see them winning it but a quarter-final spot is not beyond them at all. If you’re Italian, Dutch or Chilean and looking for someone to support next summer, these guys are a nation worth getting behind.

And who do you think will be this summer’s biggest flops?

A controversial choice, perhaps, but I can see France letting themselves down in Russia.

The squad they’ll take to the tournament is pretty mind-blowing but I’m not convinced by Didier Deschamps as a coach at all and I can see them crumbling under the pressure that comes with the ‘Golden Generation’ tag.

Feel free to remind me of this when they romp to victory, though.

Lionel Messi picked up the coveted Golden Ball award at the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Who do you fancy for it this time around?

Well Messi is very much in the last chance saloon when it comes to getting his hands on some elusive silverware at international level, so it could well be him.

But when I gaze into my crystal ball, I can see the 2018 World Cup belonging to Neymar.

After what is unlikely to be too much of a taxing season in Ligue 1, he should be heading to Russia in tip top form and with plenty of energy left in those legs of his.

After all, he ain’t the world’s most expensive footballer for nothing.

And how about the Golden Boot?

Álvaro Morata will be the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup. You heard it here first.

Can you give me all the groups in full and summarise them in three simple words?

Of course, here you go.

Group A

14 June

16:00, Moscow: Russia v Saudi Arabia

15 June

13:00, Yekaterinburg: Egypt v Uruguay

19 June

19:00, Saint Petersburg: Russia v Egypt

20 June

16:00, Rostov-on-Don: Uruguay v Saudi Arabia

25 June

15:00, Samara: Uruguay v Russia

15:00, Volgograd: Saudi Arabia v Egypt

The winners of Group A will advance to play the runners-up of Group B.

The runners-up of Group A will advance to play the winners of Group B.

The group summarised in three words:

Putin picked it.

Group B

15 June

16:00, Saint Petersburg: Morocco v Iran

19:00, Sochi: Portugal v Spain

20 June

13:00, Moscow: Portugal v Morocco

19:00, Kazan: Iran v Spain

25 June

19:00, Kaliningrad: Spain v Morocco

19:00, Saransk: Iran v Portugal

The winners of Group B will advance to play the runners-up of Group A

The runners-up of Group B will advance to play the winners of Group A

The group summarised in three words:

No love lost.

Group C

16 June

11:00, Kazan: France v Australia

17:00, Saransk: Peru v Denmark

21 June

13:00, Yekaterinburg: France v Peru

16:00, Samara: Denmark v Australia

26 June

15:00, Moscow: Denmark v France

15:00, Sochi: Australia v Peru

The winners of Group C will advance to play the runners-up of Group D.

The runners-up of Group C will advance to play the winners of Group D.

The group summarised in three words:

Don’t underestimate Peru.

Group D

16 June

14:00, Moscow: Argentina v Iceland

20:00, Kaliningrad: Croatia v Nigeria

21 June

18:00, Volgograd: Nigeria v Iceland

22 June

19:00, Nizhny Novgorod: Argentina v Croatia

26 June

19:00, Rostov-on-Don: Iceland v Croatia

19:00, Saint Petersburg: Nigeria v Argentina

The winners of Group D will advance to play the runners-up of Group C.

The runners-up of Group D will advance to play the winners of Group C.

The group summarised in three words:

Messi and Modric.

Group E

17 June

13:00, Samara: Costa Rica v Serbia

19:00, Rostov-on-Don: Brazil v Switzerland

22 June

13:00, Saint Petersburg: Brazil v Costa Rica

19:00, Kaliningrad: Serbia v Switzerland

27 June

19:00, Moscow: Serbia v Brazil

19:00, Nizhny Novgorod: Switzerland v Costa Rica

The winners of Group E will advance to play the runners-up of Group F.

The runners-up of Group E will advance to play the winners of Group F.

The group summarised in three words:

Comfortable for Brazil.

Group F

17 June

16:00, Moscow: Germany v Mexico

18 June

13:00, Nizhny Novgorod: Sweden v South Korea

23 June

17:00, Sochi: Germany v Sweden

20:00 Rostov-on-Don: South Korea v Mexico

27 June

16:00, Yekaterinburg: Mexico v Sweden

16:00, Kazan: South Korea v Germany

The winners of Group F will advance to play the runners-up of Group E.

The runners-up of Group F will advance to play the winners of Group E.

The group summarised in three words:

Tricky on paper.

Group G

18 June

16:00, Sochi: Belgium v Panama

19:00, Volgograd: Tunisia v England

23 June

13:00, Moscow: Belgium v Tunisia

24 June

13:00, Nizhny Novgorod: England v Panama

28 June

19:00, Kaliningrad: England v Belgium

19:00, Saransk: Panama v Tunisia

The winners of Group G will advance to play the runners-up of Group H.

The runners-up of Group G will advance to play the winners of Group H.

The group summarised in three words:

Flatters to deceive.

Group H

19 June

13:00, Moscow: Poland v Senegal

16:00, Saransk: Colombia v Japan

24 June

16:00, Yekaterinburg: Japan v Senegal

19:00, Kazan: Poland v Colombia

28 June

15:00, Samara: Senegal v Colombia

15:00, Volgograd: Japan v Poland

The winners of Group H will advance to play the runners-up of Group G.

The runners-up of Group H will advance to play the winners of Group G.

The group summarised in three words:

Group of dearth.

Other notable dates:

The last 16 fixtures will take place on 30 June, 1 July, 2 July and 3 July.

The quarter-finals will be the 6 and 7 July.

The semi-finals will be the 10 and 11 July.

And the third place play-off will take place in Saint Petersburg on the day before the final.

Excited? You should be!