World Cup draw: United States grouping revealed as team is back playing for soccer supremacy
England and Iran among group opponents for US
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The United States men’s soccer team will have England, Iran and possibly Wales, Scotland or Ukraine in its World Cup group later this year when the tournament kicks off in November in Qatar.
The World Cup draw was televised live on FS1 and streamed on the FOX Sports app Friday. The U.S. will be in Group B with the other nations. The last team in the group is still to be decided because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Ukraine's team to move its match against Scotland to June.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A view of the FIFA World Cup Trophy ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final draw at the Doha Exhibition Center April 1, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. (Michael Regan/FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage. The U.S., at least on paper, is in good standing to make the knockout round as its group isn’t exactly the strongest.
Here’s how the groupings shake out:
Group A
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Qatar
Ecuador
Senegal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Netherlands
Group B
The names of World Cup Group B teams England, Iran, the U.S. and a European qualifier are seen during the 2022 soccer World Cup draw at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha, Qatar, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
England
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Iran
United States
Ukraine/Scotland/Wales
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Group C
Argentina
Saudi Arabia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mexico
Poland
US RETURNS TO WORLD CUP DESPITE 2-0 LOSS AT COSTA RICA
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Group D
France
Austria/UAE/Peru
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Denmark
Tunisia
Group E
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Spain
Costa Rica/New Zealand
Germany
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Japan
Group F
Belgium
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Canada
Morocco
Croatia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Group G
Brazil
Serbia
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Switzerland
Cameroon
Group H
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Portugal
Ghana
Uruguay
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}South Korea
This year’s tournament, which will take place in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18, is the last to feature 32 international teams. The 2026 tournament in North America will consist of 48. The World Cup is scheduled for the latter part of the year because of the hot climate in Qatar.
The United States' Christian Pulisic (10) celebrates a goal with Walker Zimmerman (3) during the team's FIFA World Cup qualifying soccer match against Honduras Feb. 2, 2022, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
The draw already has a handful of surprises. Italy, four-time World Cup champions, have not qualified after losing to North Macedonia in a qualifier. Russia was disqualified from competing because of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and Canada qualified for the first time in 36 years.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Qualifiers that are past Cup winners include Germany, Brazil, France, Spain, England, Argentina and Uruguay.
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The United States has never won on the men’s side. Its best finish came in 1930 when it finished third. The team hasn’t placed better than eighth since.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.