Friday’s final draw is billed to take place at the State Kremlin Palace and will start at 6 pm Moscow time (4 pm Nigeria time).
watch how this was done
watch how this was done
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, as well as 31 other countries, will be part of Friday’s draw that will reveal the group opponents of the participating teams.
Gary Lineker, who played in the 1986 and 1990 finals for England and scored in both competitions, will conduct the draw alongside Russian star, Maria Komandnaya.
Nigeria is in Pot 4, alongside Serbia, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, Korea Republic, and Saudi Arabia.
It means the eight countries cannot meet each other in the group stage of the tournament next year.
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; Tunisia; Egypt; Senegal; Iran
POT 4: Serbia; Nigeria; Australia; Japan; Morocco; Panama; Korea Republic; Saudi Arabia.
Host Cities: Moscow; Ekaterinburg; Saransk; Rostov-On-Don; Kazan; Kaliningrad; Sochi; Samara; Saint Petersburg; Volgograd; Nizhny Novgorod
Stay with PREMIUM TIMES for Live Updates from inside the State Kremlin Palace – the Parliament of the Russian Federation.
Russia President starts the ceremony with his opening speech
After the music performance…. the legends are now been called for the draw proper
Draw assistants are Laurent Blanc (1998 World Cup winner with France); Gordon Banks (goalkeeper of England’s 1966 –winning squad); Cafu (two –time winner with Brazil, also involved in the Final Draw for 2014 competition); Fabio Cannavaro (Italy’s 2006 team –winning captain, also involved in the Final Draw for 2014 competition), Diego Forlan (whose Uruguay won in 1930 and 1950); Diego Maradona (who led Argentina to victory in 1986, after they won at home in 1978); Carles Puyol (involved in Spain’s 2010 triumph in South Africa) and Nikita Simonyan (who played for 2018 hosts Russia in the 1958 finals in Sweden).
Gary Lineker, who played in the 1986 and 1990 finals for England and scored in both competitions is in charge of the draw.. he is reeling out the pots again
The highest rated teams and the Host Russia in pot 1 and the lowest rated in pot 4.
Gary Lineker, who played in the 1986 and 1990 finals for England and scored in both competitions is in charge of the draw.. He is reeling out the pots again
Portugal B1
France is C1
No two teams will be drawn will be drawn from the same footballing zone, with the exception of Europe which has 14 teams.
Argentina Nigeria’s world cup customers are D1
Brazil the first team to qualify for the world cup are E1
Germany F1
Belgium G1 and Poland H1
Uruguay has joined Russia in Group A while Spain Joins Portugal in Group B
Peru in Group C with France and Croatia with Argentina in Group D
Switzerland with Brazil in Group E ..Mexico with Germany in Group F while England is in Group G with Belgium
The first African team to be drawn is Egypt. they have been drawn in Group A with Russia
Iran falls in Group B with Portugal and Spain
Iceland in Group D with Argentina and Croatia
Second African team Tunisia are in Group G with Belgium and England
Senegal are together with Portugal and Colombia
Russia will start the world cup with Saudi Arabia
Morocco in Group B
Super Eagles to face Argentina again in Group D
BREAKING Super Eagles to face Argentina in World Cup
The Super Eagles have been placed in Group D of the Russia 2018 World Cup where they will face perennial foes Argentina.
It is the fifth time Nigeria will be pitched against the South Americans.
Except for France 1998, Nigeria have faced the two-time world champions in all their world cup campaigns.
Unfortunately, Nigeria has lost all her previous games against Argentina the other teams in Group D with Nigeria are Iceland and Croatia.
Below are the full details of the eight groups
Group A
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Uruguay
Group B
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
Iran
Spain
Morocco
Iran
Group C
France
Australia
Peru
Denmark
Australia
Peru
Denmark
Group D
Argentina
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria
Group E
Brazil
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia
Switzerland
Costa Rica
Serbia
Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
Korea
Mexico
Sweden
Korea
Group G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England
Panama
Tunisia
England
Group H
Poland
Senegal
Columbia
Japan
Senegal
Columbia
Japan
The first match will be played between Russia and Saudi Arabia