He 32 qualified teams
Socceroos are making ce at a World Cup. were the first Asian Russia 2018. nese have made the wo occasions. – The Taeguk n a World Cup ever6. SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudis made their World Cup debut at USA 1994. EGYPT – The Pharaohs are making their first world finals appearance since Italy 1990. MOROCCO – The Atlas Lions topped African zone Group C in qualification NIGERIA – The Super Eagles have only missed one tournament since their debut at USA 1994. SENEGA – In their debut at Korea/Japan 2002, the Lions of Teranga reached the quarter-finals. TUNISIA – At Argentina 1978, the Carthage Eagles became the first African team to win a World Cup match. COSTA RICA – Los Ticos impressed at Brazil 2014, making the quarter-finals. MEXICO – The Mexicans lost just once in qualifying for Russia 2018. PANAMA – The central Americans are making their World Cup debut in Russia. ARGENTINA – The two-time champions appeared at the inaugural edition at Uruguay 1930. BRAZIL – A Selecao were the first team to qualify after hosts Russia. COLOMBIA – Los Cafeteros coach Jose Pekerman was in charge of his native Argentina at Germany 2006. PERU – The Peruvians return to the world finals for the first time in 36 years. URUGUAY – La Celeste were world champions as hosts in 1930 and at Brazil 1950. BELGIUM – The Belgians went undefeated in topping UEFA Group H in qualifying. CROATIA – The Croatians finished third in their World Cup debut at France 1998. DENMARK – The Danes secured qualification with a comfortable play-off win over Republic of Ireland. ENGLAND – The Three Lions have made the finals 14 times from 16 qualifying campaigns. FRANCE – Les Bleus are making a sixthstraight world finals appearance. GERMANY – The defending world champions registered a 100 per cent record in qualifying. ICELAND – The smallest country by population ever to qualify for a World Cup. POLAND – The Poles finished third at Germany 1974 and Spain 1982. PORTUGAL – A Selecao das Quinas are making a fifth-straight finals appearance. RUSSIA – As the Soviet Union, the World Cup hosts finished fourth at England 1966. SERBIA – The Serbs topped UEFA Group D in qualification with only one defeat. SPAIN – Champions in 2010, Spain’s World Cup debut was at Italy 1934. SWEDEN – The Swedes were runnersup as World Cup hosts in 1958. SWITZERLAND – The Swiss have reached the quarter-finals on three occasions.
Spain and Portugal, the last two European champions, were drawn Friday to meet in the first round of the World Cup, one day after Russia opens the tournament in one of the easiest groups of the competition.
The Russians will play their first match at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14 against Saudi Arabia — the only team ranked lower than the hosts. Egypt and Uruguay are also in Group A.
Spain, which eliminated Portugal in the last 16 on the way to winning its first World Cup in 2010, will open against the European champions on June 15 in Sochi. Group B also includes Morocco and Iran.
“Everyone wanted to avoid Spain in Pot 2. We inherited it. Thanks for that,” Morocco coach Herve Renard said. “We have to face these two ogres (Spain and Portugal) and do everything to qualify for the last 16, even if it seems very difficult.”
Defending champion Germany will open against Mexico in its quest to become the first country to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 1962. The Germans will then face Sweden and South Korea in Group F.
“We got opponents that are not unknown to us,” Germany captain Manuel Neuer said. “That’s what I like best, when we know what to expect.”
Five-time world champion Brazil is in Group E with Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. That means the Brazilians will not play any games in its base city of Sochi.
“We couldn’t control that,” Brazil coach Tite said. “Despite the (travel) distances, there are quick way to get there.”
Iceland, the country with the smallest population of the 32 World Cup teams, will face qualifying opponent Croatia in Group D along with Argentina and Nigeria.
“Croatia has an excellent midfield, Nigeria is unpredictable and has some very fast players, and Iceland comes in with little pressure,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said.
Another newcomer, Panama, will take on England, Tunisia and Belgium in Group G.
“We’ve been good at writing off teams and then getting beaten by them,” said England coach Gareth Southgate, who is preparing for his first tournament leading the team.