16th November 2022
GROUP A
Qatar
Almoez Ali
Coach: Felix Sanchez
Star player: Almoez Ali (Al-Duhail)
World Cup best: Debut
Qatar won the 2019 Asian Cup but face a major challenge to avoid becoming only the second host nation - after South Africa in 2010 - to be eliminated at the first hurdle. Their entire squad is based domestically and has been training together since June in preparation for a maiden appearance at this level.
Qatar squad:
Fixtures:
Ecuador
Moises Caicedo
Coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Star player: Moises Caicedo (Brighton)
World Cup best: Second round 2006
Ecuador were South American Under-20 champions in 2019 and have a youthful side which is quick, strong and suited to counter-attacking tactics. Argentinian Alfaro, appointed in August 2020, steadied the ship following a turbulent period. While he has toughened up the team defensively, goals have dried up in recent warm-up fixtures.
Ecuador squad:
Fixtures:
Senegal
Sadio Mane Senegal
Coach: Aliou Cisse
Star player: Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 2002
In record scorer Mane, the African champions have genuine world-class quality, while Chelsea pair Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly are also key performers. Cisse's side qualified by defeating Egypt on penalties, a repeat result of the Africa Cup of Nations final. They agonisingly missed out on a second-round spot in 2018 due to accumulating more yellow cards than Japan.
Senegal squad:
Fixtures:
Netherlands
Virgil Van Dijk
Coach: Louis Van Gaal
Star player: Virgil Van Dijk (Liverpool)
World Cup best: Runners up 1974, 1978, 2010
The Dutch are back after failing to qualify for Russia. Van Gaal, who led them to third place in 2014, came out of retirement for a third spell in charge but has had limited time to implement his methods. A lack of club action for star striker Memphis Depay is not ideal, while goalkeeper is a position of weakness.
Netherlands squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP B
England
Harry Kane
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Star player: Harry Kane (Tottenham)
World Cup best: Winners 1966
Semi-finalists in 2018 and Euro 2020 runners-up, England should be full of confidence. But the road to the Middle East has been littered with setbacks: six games without a win, five without a goal and relegation in the Nations League. Southgate has come in for criticism but is unlikely to deviate from a handbrake-on approach or drop under-performing regulars.
England squad:
Fixtures:
Iran
Sardar Azmoun Iran
Coach: Carlos Queiroz
Star player: Sardar Azmoun (Bayer Leverkusen)
World Cup best: First round 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018
Well-travelled former Manchester United assistant Queiroz was reappointed in September, having led Iran to the 2014 and 2018 tournaments. Each of those campaigns ended with group-stage elimination. Avoiding a hat-trick of early exits under Queiroz appears unlikely. Iran are rank outsiders with bookmakers and lack the star names of their group rivals.
Iran squad:
Fixtures:
United States
Christian Pulisic USA
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Star player: Christian Pulisic (Chelsea)
World Cup best: Third 1930
Berhalter is blessed with one of the most talented pools of players in US history. Many of his squad operate in Europe's top leagues and expectation back home is they will make it out of the group. The US have done so four times since 1990, including in 2010 - the last time they were drawn alongside England.
USA squad:
Fixtures:
Wales
Gareth Bale
Coach: Robert Page
Star player: Gareth Bale (Los Angeles FC)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1958
Wales ended a 64-year wait for a second World Cup outing by overcoming Ukraine in a play-off. No other nation has gone so long between appearances. The fitness of talismanic captain Bale is central to their hopes, while a satisfactory draw provides reason for optimism. Few other countries can match Page's squad for spirit and togetherness.
Wales squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP C
Argentina
Lionel Messi
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Star player: Lionel Messi (PSG)
World Cup best: Winners 1978, 1986
Messi has won everything possible at club level and, with the 2021 Copa America, finally lifted international silverware. Now aged 35, Argentina's most-capped played and record scorer has one last shot at football's ultimate prize. He is surrounded by an industrious and gifted team. Argentina are 35 games undefeated and confidence is sky high.
Argentina squad:
Fixtures:
Saudi Arabia
Salem Al-Dawsari
Coach: Herve Renard
Star player: Salem Al-Dawsari (Al-Hilal)
World Cup best: Second round 1994
The Green Falcons cruised through qualifying but make the short trip to Qatar as one of the major underdogs. They picked up their first tournament win since 1994 by defeating Egypt in their final group game in Russia and have greater fight, discipline and belief since the appointment of Frenchman Renard.
Saudi Arabia squad:
Fixtures:
Mexico
Edson Alvarez
Coach: Gerardo Martino
Star player: Edson Alvarez (Ajax)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1970, 1986
Mexico hold a remarkably consistent World Cup record, having suffered last-16 exits at the last seven tournaments. Emulating that modest achievement may prove tricky. Many Mexican fans - dismayed by three successive defeats to rivals the USA in 2021 - feel pessimism towards Martino's ageing side, the core of which remains from past World Cup campaigns.
Mexico squad:
Fixtures:
Poland
Robert Lewandowski
Coach: Czeslaw Michniewicz
Star player: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)
World Cup best: Third place 1974, 1982
Striker Lewandowski has settled in seamlessly at Barcelona following his switch from Bayern Munich and will be critical to Polish hopes at what will almost certainly be his final World Cup. Michniewicz secured qualification in just his second match following the shock resignation of Paulo Sousa. Poland's last knockout match was in 1986.
Poland squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP D
France
Kylian Mbappe
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Star player: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
World Cup best: Winners 1998, 2018
Les Bleus are bidding to become only the third nation - after Italy and Brazil - to retain the trophy. Deschamps has a squad packed with talent, including Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema, and enviable strength in depth. Key midfielders Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante are out injured but the defending champions are among the favourites.
France squad:
Fixtures:
Australia
Mathew Ryan
Coach: Graham Arnold
Star player: Mathew Ryan (FC Copenhagen)
World Cup best: Second round 2006
Expectations for the Socceroos are low following an underwhelming qualifying campaign, which ended with a surprise penalty shoot-out success over Peru. The golden generation of Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka and Harry Kewell is a distant memory, with few of the current crop playing in major leagues. A herculean effort is required to make it out of a tough group.
Australia squad:
Fixtures:
Denmark
Christian Eriksen
Coach: Kasper Hjulmand
Star player: Christian Eriksen (Manchester United)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1998
Denmark won nine of 10 games in qualifying, scoring 30 goals and conceding just three. Eriksen's return following his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, where the Danes reached the last four, is both miraculous and a major boost. The 1992 European champions have a strong team ethic and will hope their influential playmaker can provide the spark.
Denmark squad:
Fixtures:
Tunisia
Wahbi Khazri
Coach: Jalel Kadri
Star player: Wahbi Khazri (Montpellier)
World Cup best: First round 1978, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2018
Tunisia qualified by defeating Mali in a play-off. Coach Kadri has only been in charge since March after being promoted from an assistant role following the sacking of Mondher Kebaier. The 2004 African champions are tactically cautious and have never made it beyond the group stage. A 5-1 warm-up thrashing by Brazil emphasised the enormity of their task.
Tunisia squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP E
Spain
Pedri
Coach: Luis Enrique
Star player: Pedri (Barcelona)
World Cup best: Winners 2010
Enrique is developing a talented young team as Spain attempt to finally emerge from the shadow of the all-conquering squads which won the 2010 World Cup either side of successive European Championship triumphs. A run to the Euro 2020 semi-finals renewed belief after La Roja failed to win a knockout match at the previous three major tournaments.
Spain squad:
Fixtures:
Costa Rica
Keylor Navas
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
Star player: Keylor Navas (PSG)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 2014
The final nation to secure a spot in Qatar overcame a dismal start to qualifying. Many of the veterans who helped eliminate England and Italy in 2014 remain, with the ageing core supplemented by a host of inexperienced youngsters. Navas is among the world's best goalkeepers but the draw has not been kind to the Central Americans.
Costa Rica squad:
Fixtures:
Germany
Manuel Neuer Germany
Coach: Hansi Flick
Star player: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
World Cup best: Winners 2014 (West Germany were champions in 1954, 1974, 1990)
Aside from the hosts, Germany were the first country to qualify but travel with relatively subdued expectations. They suffered the ignominy of finishing bottom of their group four years ago and still appear to be lacking in key areas. That said, the in-camp mood is much more buoyant than at the end of the Joachim Low era.
Germany squad:
Fixtures:
Japan
Daichi Kamada
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Star player: Daichi Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)
World Cup best: Second round 2002, 2010, 2018
Japan will appear at their seventh consecutive finals. Moriyasu, who prefers a quick-passing, hard-running game, has 19 World Cup debutants in his squad. Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu, former Liverpool player Takumi Minamino and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma have been included, while attacking midfielder Kamada hit five goals to help Eintracht Frankfurt win last season's Europa League.
Japan squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP F
Belgium
Kevin de Bruyne
Coach: Roberto Martinez
Star player: Kevin De Bruyne (Man City)
World Cup best: Third place 2018
Bronze medallists four years ago, Belgium cruised through qualifying. Yet their much-heralded golden generation is past its best and has one final chance to turn potential into silverware. De Bruyne is arguably at the peak of his powers but Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku have endured prolonged struggles at club level.
Belgium squad:
Fixtures:
Canada
Alphonso Davies
Coach: John Herdman
Star player: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)
World Cup best: First round 1986
After years of international anonymity, Canada return from the wilderness for only a second World Cup appearance, having finished pointless and goalless in 1986. Herdman's side topped their qualifying group ahead of 2026 tournament co-hosts Mexico and the United States and produced some scintillating football along the way.
Canada squad:
Fixtures:
Morocco
Hakim Ziyech
Coach: Walid Regragui
Star player: Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea)
World Cup best: Second round 1986
Morocco fired Vahid Halilhodzic a matter of months before the big kick-off. The Bosnian fell out with star man Ziyech, who was overlooked for the duration of qualifying. The Atlas Lions have won only two of 16 previous World Cup games. Regragui is tasked with injecting positive energy into a side with a history of flattering to deceive.
Morocco squad:
Fixtures:
Croatia
Luka Modric Croatia
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Star player: Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
World Cup best: Runners up 2018
Results have been mixed since the Croats stormed to the final in 2018. That achievement will be hard to replicate, albeit they remain a dangerous proposition, as evidenced by June's 1-0 win over world champions France. Midfield remains their strongest area, where veteran skipper Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic form a formidable backbone.
Croatia squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP G
Brazil
Neymar
Coach: Tite
Star player: Neymar (PSG)
World Cup best: Winners 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002
Defensively rock-solid and with an exciting array of new attacking options easing the burden on talisman Neymar, the competition's most-successful nation have been installed as the pre-tournament favourites. They are looking to make their first World Cup final since winning the last of their five titles 20 years ago.
Brazil squad:
Fixtures:
Serbia
Dusan Tadic
Coach: Dragan Stojkovic
Star player: Dusan Tadic (Ajax)
World Cup best: First round 2010, 2018 (Yugoslavia finished fourth in 1930 and 1962)
Former playmaker Stojkovic, appointed just before the qualification campaign, insists on attacking football and has the talent to follow the philosophy, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luka Jovic. He has fostered a strong team spirit. An insecure defence is perhaps cause for concern.
Serbia squad:
Fixtures:
Switzerland
Granit Xhaka
Coach: Murat Yakin
Star player: Granit Xhaka (Arsenal)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1934, 1938, 1954
Switzerland impressively topped their qualifying group ahead of European champions Italy. A memorable 18 months in which they were also a penalty shoot-out away from the semi-finals of Euro 2020 gives them realistic hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since they hosted the tournament 68 years ago.
Switzerland squad:
Fixtures:
Cameroon
Vincent Aboubakar
Coach: Rigobert Song
Star player: Vincent Aboubakar (Al Nassr)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 1990
The Indomitable Lions are Africa's most frequent World Cup visitors but have not won a match at the finals for 20 years. Ex-defender Song replaced Portuguese coach Toni Conceicao in February after his former team-mate Samuel Eto'o became president of the Cameroonian Football Federation. Song's squad is in transition and may struggle to end the long wait for victory.
Cameroon squad:
Fixtures:
GROUP H
Portugal
Cristiano Ronaldo
Coach: Fernando Santos
Star player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
World Cup best: Third place 1966
Santos has been in charge since 2014 and led Portugal to Euro 2016 glory. Credit in the bank from that success has almost been exhausted due to poor performances in recent tournaments. His squad is brimming with mercurial talent, such as Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes, while 37-year-old Ronaldo remains the most reliable source of goals.
Portugal squad:
Fixtures:
Ghana
Thomas Partey
Coach: Otto Addo
Star player: Thomas Partey (Arsenal)
World Cup best: Quarter-finals 2010
Ghana bounced back from the humiliation of finishing bottom of their Africa Cup of Nations group by upsetting Nigeria on away goals in a qualifying play-off. Interim coach Addo has a hungry, young crop of players but has enjoyed just one win in 90 minutes since being appointed. The Black Stars are the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
Ghana squad:
Fixtures:
Uruguay
Luis Suarez
Coach: Diego Alonso
Star player: Luis Suarez (Nacional)
World Cup best: Winners 1930, 1950
The two-time winners are very much in a transitional phase. Alonso took over late last year after Oscar Tabarez's record-breaking 15-year reign ended with the sack. The ex-Inter Miami coach must find the right blend between old and new generations, with Diego Godin, Suarez and Edinson Cavani preparing for final hurrahs.
Uruguay squad:
Fixtures:
South Korea
Son Heung-min
Coach: Paulo Bento
Star player: Son Heung-min (Tottenham)
World Cup best: Fourth place 2002
South Korea are set for a 10th consecutive World Cup campaign, an enviable record only bettered by Brazil, Germany, Spain and Argentina. Qualification was straightforward but they are perhaps overly dependant on captain Son. The Tottenham forward, who has 35 international goals in 104 caps, is touch-and-go for the tournament due to a fractured eye socket.
South Korea squad:
Fixtures: