On December 1, 2018, Russia held the Drawing of World Cup 2018 Groups The ceremony took place in Moscow, where 32 teams were separated into eight groups for the 2018 World Cup: Russia (host country), Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, and France. This order was defined by FIFA's November ranking.
+ Check out all the dates and times of the first round matches in the 2018 World Cup
+ See all 2018 World Cup shirts
Brazil has been drawn in Group E, which includes Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia. Former England footballer Gary Lineker and Russian journalist Maria Komandnaya made the presentation of the World Cup 2018 group draw, and Fifa called seven representatives from each of the teams that have won the title to help draw the World Cup groups.2018.
The selected representatives were the Brazilian Cafu, the Argentine Diego Maradona, the Italian Fabio Cannavaro, the Uruguayan Diego Forlán, the English Gordon Banks, the French Laurent Blanc, and the Spanish Carles Puyol.
Miroslav Klose, the greatest scorer in the Cups, was responsible for carrying the trophy to the stage. Fifa also called other guests of honor to participate in the draw, but only to follow the event, such as Brazilians Pelé, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Dutchman Clarence Seedorf, and German Lothar Matthäus.
Brazil will play in Rostov, St. Petersburg, and Moscow (Spartak Arena) in the group phase. Brazil's debut will be on June 17.
If these favoritisms are confirmed, Brazil is in the group of Uruguay, Portugal, Belgium, and France in the knockout stage. On the other side, the potential opponents in a final would be Argentina, Germany, and Spain.
Check out the World Cup 2018 Groups
| 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 |
Brazil's games in the first round of World Cup 2018
- Brazil-Switzerland - June 17, Sunday, 15:00 (Brasília) - Rostov
- Brazil vs. Costa Rica - June 25, Friday, 9am (Brasília) - St. Petersburg
- Serbia vs. Brazil - June 27, Wednesday, 3 PM (Brasília) - Moscow (Spartak Arena)
Check out the full World Cup 2018 group stage table (in Brasilia time):
GROUP A
Check out an analysis of Group A
The group that has hosts Russia as the head of the group is going to be very difficult for the hosts to advance to the next phase of the competition. Uruguay, led by the attacking duo Suarez and Cavani, are the favorites for the first place, while Saudi Arabia is the underdog of the group.
Round 1
06/14 - 12:00 - Russia vs. Saudi Arabia - Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
06/15 - 09h - Egypt vs. Uruguay - Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg)
Round 2
06/19 - 3pm - Russia vs. Egypt - Krestovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg)
06/20 - 12:00 PM - Uruguay vs. Saudi Arabia - Rostov Arena (Don Rostov)
Round 3
06/25 - 11am - Uruguay-Russia - Samara Arena (Samara)
06/25 - 11h - Saudi Arabia vs. Egypt - Volgograd Arena (Volgograd)
GROUP B
Check out an analysis of Group B
The second group of the 2018 World Cup will have a big clash for the first qualifying spot: Spain, of Sergio Ramos and Pique against Portugal, of Cristiano Ronaldo.
As such, Iran and Morocco are the lesser opponents and considered underdogs. They will probably not get past the first round.
Round 1
06/15 - 12:00 - Morocco vs. Iran - Krestovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg)
06/15 - 3pm - Portugal vs Spain - Fisht Olympic Stadium (Sochi)
Round 2
06/20 - 09h - Portugal vs. Morocco - Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
06/20 - 15h - Iran vs. Spain - Kazan Arena (Kazan)
Round 3
06/25 - 15:00 - Iran vs. Portugal - Arena Mordovia (Saransk)
06/25 - 15:00 - Spain vs. Morocco - Kaliningrad Stadium (Kaliningrad)
GROUP C
Check out an analysis of Group C
France, top of Group C, should prove their favoritism and good phase, passing without great difficulty to the next phase as leaders, counting on the stars Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in the attack and Paul Pogba commanding the midfield.
Peru and Denmark should fight it out for the second spot, with a slight advantage for the European team, with star playmaker Christian Eriksen, who scored 11 goals and helped the Scandinavians get through the playoffs.
Peru puts its chances at the feet of midfielder Cueva, who plays for São Paulo, and striker Guerreiro, the great reference in the attack.
Round 1
06/16 - 07h - France vs. Australia - Kazan Arena (Kazan)
06/16 - 13h - Peru vs. Denmark - Mordovia Arena (Saransk)
Round 2
06/21 - 09h - France-Peru - Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg)
06/21 - 12:00 - Denmark vs. Australia - Samara Arena (Samara)
Round 3
06/26 - 11am - Denmark vs. France - Luzhniki Stadium (Mocou)
06/26 - 11h - Australia vs. Peru - Fisht Olympic Stadium (Sochi)
GROUP D
Check out an analysis of Group D
Star player Lionel Messi, who led Argentina's qualification for the 2018 World Cup, is the Buenos Aires team's bet to take the first spot in the group.
Despite the slight favoritism, the group is balanced by the moment in which the teams are going through. Croatia counts with the creative talents Luka Modric (Real Madrid) and Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona). Nigeria has a tradition of always playing tough games and taking points from the other favorite teams.
Iceland should be the charisma club and sensation of the 2018 World Cup. The smallest country in population to qualify in the tournament, it should not be considered an underdog and may surprise (as in Euro 2016, where it eliminated England).
Round 1
06/16 - 10am - Argentina vs. Iceland - Otkrytie Arena (Moscow)
06/16 - 16h - Croatia - Nigeria - Kaliningrad Stadium (Kaliningrad)
Round 2
06/21 - 3pm - Argentina vs. Croatia - Níjni Novgorod Stadium (Níjni Novgorod)
06/22 - 12:00 - Nigeria vs. Iceland - Volgograd Arena (Volgograd)
Round 3
06/26 - 3pm - Nigeria-Argentina - Krestovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg)
06/26 - 3pm - Iceland vs. Croatia - Rostov Arena (Don Rostov)
GROUP E
Check out an analysis of Group E
With a perfect campaign under the command of coach Tite, Brazil is the clear favorite in Group E. For this, they count on talents such as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Coutinho, Paulinho and Marcelo.
Switzerland and Serbia are expected to fight it out for second place, with the former featuring Arsenal and Stoke City stars Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, while Serbia will rely on a strong defensive system, with Ivanovic, Kolarov, Nemanja Matic and Vidic as key players. D
Costa Rica, who were underdogs in last year's World Cup, are expected to continue as underdogs in the group. The only major highlight is Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Round 1
06/17 - 9am - Costa Rica vs. Serbia - Samara Arena (Samara)
06/17 - 15h - Brazil-Switzerland - Rostov Arena (Rostov do Don)
Round 2
06/22 - 09h - Brazil vs. Costa Rica - Krestovsky Stadium (St. Petersburg)
06/22 - 15:00 - Serbia vs. Switzerland - Kaliningrad Stadium (Kaliningrad)
Round 3
06/27 - 15h - Serbia vs. Brazil - Otkrytie Arena (Moscow)
06/27 - 15h - Switzerland-Costa Rica - Níjni Novgorod Stadium (Níjni Novgorod)
GROUP F
Check out an analysis of Group F
The last champion of the tournament, Germany is the favorite to take the first spot in this complicated group, which has Mexico and Sweden in the running.
Led by coach Joachim Low, Germany has the star Toni Kroos, from Real Madrid, a playmaking midfielder who organizes plays and also attacks.
Mexico puts the chances of scoring in the hands of the star Chicharito in the hands of their opponents, and since Ibra did not play in the qualifiers, Sweden has put in the hands of defender Granqvist the group leader.
Round 1
06/17 - 12AM - Germany vs. Mexico - Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
06/18 - 09h - Sweden-Korea Republic - Nijjni Novgorod Stadium (Nijjni Novgorod)
Round 2
06/23 - 12:00 pm - Germany-Sweden - Fisht Olympic Stadium (Sochi)
06/23 - 15:00 - South Korea vs. Mexico - Rostov Arena (Don Rostov)
Round 3
06/27 - 11h - South Korea vs. Germany - Kazan Arena (Kazan)
06/27 - 11am - Mexico-Sweden - Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg)
GROUP G
Check out an analysis of Group G
In Group G, England and Belgium are the favorite teams in the group. On the English side, which has undergone a major overhaul since the last World Cup, the highlight is Tottenham Hotspur's striker Kane, with a great goal average in recent seasons.
The star of the team is Chelsea attacking midfielder Eden Hazard, who has led the club to the last Premier League titles.
Completing the group, Panama and Tunisia are the minor forces in the first round.
Round 1
06/18 - 12:00 pm - Belgium vs. Panama - Fisht Olympic Stadium (Sochi)
06/18 - 15h - Tunisia vs. England - Volgograd Arena (Volgograd)
Round 2
06/23 - 9am - Belgium vs. Tunisia - Otkrytie Arena (Moscow)
06/24 - 9am - England-Panama - Níjni Novgorod Stadium (Níjni Novgorod)
Round 3
06/28 - 15:00 - England vs. Belgium - Kaliningrad Stadium (Kaliningrad)
06/18 - 15:00 - Panama vs. Tunisia - Arena Mordovia (Saransk)
GROUP H
Check out an analysis of Group H
Closing out the 2018 World Cup groups, the last one should feature Colombia and Poland battling it out for the first spot in the group for the next round.
The Europeans are seventh in the Fifa ranking and have a slight advantage. They will count on star striker Lewandowski, from Bayern Munich and top scorer of the European Qualifiers with 16 goals.
Colombia's attacking midfielder James Rodríguez, for his part, is the man responsible for getting them through to the next round, while Falcao García, Juan Cuadrado, and Carlos Bacca complete the team's attacking lineup.
Japan and Senegal are the possible underdogs in the race.
Round 1
06/19 - 09h - Poland-Senegal - Otkrytie Arena (Moscow)
06/19 - 12AM - Colombia-Japan - Mordovia Arena (Saransk)
Round 2
06/24 - 12AM - Japan vs. Senegal - Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg)
06/24 - 15h - Poland vs. Colombia - Kazan Arena (Kazan)
Round 3
06/28 - 11h - Japan vs. Senegal - Volgograd Arena (Volgograd)
06/28 - 11h - Senegal vs. Colombia - Samara Arena (Samara)