World Cup group-stage draw reloads intriguing rivalries

Lionel Messi possibly facing Robert Lewandowski, Spain definitely playing Germany, and Luis Suarez handed a rematch against old foe Ghana.

The draw for the World Cup group stage set up some intriguing prospects, with host Qatar playing Ecuador on the Nov 21 opening day but not in the first game.

England will play the United States, and both must face Iran and potentially Ukraine, which resumes in the playoffs in June against Scotland－the winner of that game will face Wales for a spot at the finals.

A total of 37 teams were involved on Friday because three entries in the 32-team lineup are not yet known. Like Ukraine's playoff bracket, two intercontinental playoffs－delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic－finish in June.

The top two teams in the standings of each group advance to the last 16 in the knockout stages which are set through to the final on Dec 18－National Day in Qatar.

GROUP A－Qatar, the Netherlands, Senegal, Ecuador

Qatar will make its World Cup debut against Ecuador on Nov 21. A game between teams currently ranked 51st and 46th, respectively, will have much more significance as the first World Cup finals game for a Middle East host.

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal sees the historic moment a little differently. He said last week it was "ridiculous" the tournament was being played in Qatar and cited FIFA's interest in money.

Van Gaal's team will open the World Cup in an afternoon kickoff against Senegal－a three-time runner-up facing the new African champion. The Dutch do not face Qatar until the last Group A games on Nov 29.

GROUP B－England, United States, Iran, Wales or Scotland or Ukraine

The US and Iran previously met at the 1998 World Cup, where the Iranians won 2-1. England will open against Iran in a first-ever World Cup game between them.

England and the US meet in their second game. They drew 1-1 in the 2010 group from which both advanced.

England's final game could be a British derby against either of its neighbors, Wales or Scotland, or Ukraine－those three teams are in a playoff bracket in June.

US coach Gregg Berhalter is looking forward to locking horns with Gareth Southgate's England, the world champion in 1966.

"We're familiar with a lot of their players so I think it's a great game," Berhalter said after the draw. "I think England has a big history in the World Cup and it's great for us to be able to play them."

If Scotland does qualify, it is due to play England on Nov 29. That's one day before the 150th anniversary of soccer's first international match, in 1872, between the two countries in Glasgow.

Group B teams also start on Nov 21. That gives those teams fewer days to prepare for the World Cup but builds in more rest days if they go deep into the tournament.

GROUP C－Argentina, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia

Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski－the holders of the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Best Player in the World awards, respectively－are on track to meet when Argentina plays Poland on Nov 30 in the last round of group games.

Argentina finally won a Copa America with Messi last year and opens against Saudi Arabia, which impressed in qualifying under coach Herve Renard.

Poland starts against Mexico, which resumes what seems to be a national obsession to get beyond the last 16.

GROUP D－France, Denmark, Tunisia, Peru or Australia or United Arab Emirates

Defending champion France and Denmark will know each other so well by November. They were in the same group four years ago and will meet twice more in June and September, in UEFA's Nations League.

France has superstar forwards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, though Denmark has a sense of destiny with playmaker Christian Eriksen. He returned to the team last month just nine months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field at Euro 2020.

"What a player. I can say he is back and maybe he's even better," said coach Kasper Hjulmand, who led the Danes to the Euro 2020 semifinals.

In 2018, Denmark also faced Peru and Australia in its group and a three-team reunion depends on the outcome of an intercontinental playoff bracket in June.

GROUP E－Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica or New Zealand

The 2010 champion Spain will face 2014 winner Germany in a Nov 27 rematch of the semifinal the Spanish won in their title campaign.

"Easy group, easy group, eh?" Spain coach Luis Enrique quipped. "A great group, great rivals and I think we have to try to enjoy that."

Costa Rica was a quarterfinalist in 2014, going deeper then than Spain, but must first get past New Zealand in a playoff in June.

GROUP F－Belgium, Croatia, Morocco, Canada

Belgium was a semifinalist four years ago and Croatia was the beaten finalist. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic knows his team cannot be a surprise this time.

"Four years ago nobody believed in us, nobody trusted my team," Dalic said. "Now we deserve respect. We deserve everything."

Canada is an intriguing and difficult option from the lowest-ranked teams after topping its qualifying group ahead of Mexico and the US.

It has two potential stars in defender Alphonso Davies and forward Jonathan David, and a history-making coach, John Herdman, who previously led Canada's women's team to a World Cup.

Morocco gets a group with two tough European sides in back-to-back tournaments. Last time, it was Spain and Portugal. Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has made World Cup history in leading a fourth different nation through qualifying.

GROUP G－Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon

Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia are quickly reunited after all were in the same group in 2018. Brazil will open against Serbia, which it beat 2-0 four years ago.

Brazil coach Tite seemed quietly confident of his team's chances of advancing to the knockout stage.

"It is neither (the group of) death nor life, every group has a degree of difficulty. Portugal has Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana," Tite said, adding that he joked with Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic about the similarity of the group from 2018.

Neymar is set to lead Brazil's attack into a third World Cup in search of a title his country last won in 2002. Brazil versus Serbia late on Nov 24 makes them the last teams to start play－more time for the squad to prepare but a more congested 25-day program if it is to win a record sixth title.

GROUP H－Portugal, Uruguay, South Korea, Ghana

Cristiano Ronaldo is on track to open his fifth straight World Cup finals at age 37 by facing Ghana.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos acknowledged "this will be a very tiring tournament", but preferred a late start in the congested schedule to help prepare his team.

The group reunites Luis Suarez and Uruguay with Ghana for the first time since their infamous quarterfinals game at the 2010 World Cup. Suarez was sent off for punching away an almost certain winning goal for Ghana deep in extra time. The penalty was missed and Uruguay went on to win the shootout.

Earlier in the 2010 knockout rounds, Suarez scored twice when Uruguay also eliminated South Korea 2-1.