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Our David Hytner is in Washington for the World Cup draw. And he has an important message in this analysis piece: amid all the hoopla, Friday\u2019s event must be all about firing the starting gun on football\u2019s biggest show.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n As in every World Cup, there\u2019ll be a clamour to coin a \u2018Group of Death\u2019. In theory, we could have one for 2026 comprising Argentina, Morocco, Italy and Norway.<\/p>\n But, remember kids, never rule out the least chilling member of the quartet. How about 2014 when Costa Rica won a Group D featuring England, Italy and Uruguay. Lest we forget, Roy Hodgson\u2019s side were killed off after just two games.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 188 days until World Cup 2026 but precisely zero days until the World Cup draw! Let\u2019s start with the basics and this highly entertaining Explainer piece from Tom Lutz.<\/p>\n Before you go in depth, a quick note that the 12 groups for the World Cup will be formed by one team from each pot.<\/p>\n Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.<\/p>\n Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.<\/p>\n Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.<\/p>\n Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Cura\u00e7ao, Haiti, New Zealand, four European playoff teams, two intercontinental playoff teams.<\/p>\n