FIFA 2018 World Cup Draw: As it happened...

Live coverage of the draw the Russia World Cup at Moscow's Red Square.

Courtesy: Twitter (@fabiocannavaro)

Welcome to our live blog of the draw for the group stages of the FIFA 2018 World Cup. The draw will decide which teams will face each other in the group stages of finals next year in Russia. (REPORT)

01 December 2017

21:40 IST

So, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off with Russia-Saudi Arabia match on June 14 next year in the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.

21:34 IST

A musical presentation and the draw comes to an end.

21:28 IST

So, the draw:

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

21:27 IST

Japan in Group H, along with Poland, Senegal, and Colombia.

21:26 IST

Panama in Group F, with Germany, Mexico, and Sweden.

21:25 IST

Nigeria in Group D, along with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

21:24 IST

Australia in Group C, along with France, Peru, and Denmark.

21:23 IST

Morocco in Group B, along with Portugal, Spain, and Iran.

21:22 IST

Serbia in Group E, along with Brazil, Switzerland, and Croatia.

21:21 IST

Saudi Arabia in Group A, along with Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.

21:20 IST

Thar leaves with the final pot with: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia.

21:19 IST

Sweden land in Group F with Germany and Mexico. Then, Tunisia in Group G with Belgium and England. Another African outfit, Senegal in Group H, along with Poland and Colombia.

21:15 IST

Egypt join Russia and Uruguay in Group A. Denmark's turn, and it needs a skipping as they can't go to Group B as it already has Portugal and Spain. They are in Group C with Argentina and Croatia.  Iran's turn, and the Asian giants go in Group B with Portugal and Spain. Iceland, the giant-killers, in Group D with Argentina and Crotia.

21:14 IST

Now, it's the turn of POT 3. And the teams are - Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran. And Cafu will pick the balls.

21:12 IST

Diego Maradona then picks Mexico, and in Group F with Germany. Joachim Low is already swooning. Then, it's England in Group G with Belgium. So, that leaves Colombia in Group H with Poland.

21:11 IST

Croatia in Group D with Argentina with Diego Forlan doing the honours of picking the ball. Switzerland in Group E with Brazil.

21:09 IST

Uruguay in Russia in Group A. Spain in Group B with Portugal. This group will have no more European teams. Then, Peru in France on Group C.

21:08 IST

Now we have the Pot 2 teams: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.

21:06 IST

Brazil in E, Germany in F, Belgium in G, and that leaves Poland with automatically in H. These are the seeded teams, leading their respective groups.

21:03 IST

Russia at A1, as we all know. Portugal in Group B, France in C, Argentina in D.

20:54 IST

And exquisite ballet performance, followed by a video footages from the previous editions of World Cup on the giant screen for everyone to see. Game's greats at display. And with that starts the draw...

20:48 IST

Miroslav Klose with the trophy. What a sight. A World Cup legend. “It’s a wonderful trophy,” he says. By the way, he's the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.

20:43 IST

Infantino hopes for an "absolutely amazing experience" for everyone next summer, then Putin said, “friendship and fair play are eternal values".

20:38 IST

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to give the welcome address.

20:33 IST

Draw balls and trophy are in place:

All set !  #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/iygVHOzxYu

— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) December 1, 2017

20:15 IST

Cafu just shared a backstage photo of living legends together, and FIFA  asks, rightly: How much would this team be worth in today's transfer market? 

Backstage!!! #WorldCup #FIFALegends pic.twitter.com/D5xYzougPO

— Cafu. (@officialcafu) December 1, 2017

19:30 IST

By the way, the World Cup kicks off June 14, with Russia’s first game, in Moscow. It concludes there on July 15. Germany are the defending champions.

19:27 IST

England international Gary Lineker will conduct the draw along with Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya. They will be assisted by Nikita Simonyan, Diego Forlan, Diego Maradona, Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro and Carles Puyol. Besides, Miraslov Klose will also be present on the stage.

19:12 IST

The coaches are arriving thick and fast at the State Kremlin Palace! #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/OCafNKa8Zp

— #WorldCupDraw  (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017

19:08 IST

Let's have a look at all 32 teams qualified for the finals and the pots.

POT 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France.
POT 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.
POT 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran.
POT 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia

18:56 IST

Here's how the draw will happen. Explained.