Despite the corruption scandals surrounding Fifa and the investigations into the bidding process that awarded Russia the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar
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Despite the corruption scandals surrounding Fifa and the investigations into the bidding process that awarded Russia the World Cup in 2018 and Qatar the tournament in 2022.
#UPDATE Football: Blatter says he will not stand in election http://t.co/rWMrUcKS6z pic.twitter.com/RSRKu1fd6u
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) July 20, 2015
The great and the good from the world of football gathered in St Petersburg to attend the draw for the qualifying groups for the World Cup in Russia 2018.
On stage Sepp Blatter, the outgoing president of Fifa, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sepp Blatter + Vladimir Putin + ballet + Russian pop = 2018 World Cup ... - Washington Post http://t.co/a3Q6KosNAa
— Ballet News Now (@BalletNewsNow) July 25, 2015
Presidential solidarity. Putin @SeppBlatter put on united front at #WorldCup2018 draw #cnnfc http://t.co/LfPknGfN7h pic.twitter.com/dJmPA0iEuc
— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) July 25, 2015
Back to the draw, England and Scotland have been drawn together they will also face Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Lithuania in Group F.
Wales the top seeds in Group D will play Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland will take on World Cup holders Germany in Group C, while Spain and Italy meet in Group G.
The complete draw is as follows.
Group A
Netherlands, France, Sweden, Bulgaria, Belarus, Luxembourg
Group B
Portugal, Switzerland, Hungary, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Andorra
Group C
Germany, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland, Norway, Azerbaijan, San Marino
Group D
Wales , Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Moldova, Georgia
Group E
Romania, Denmark, Poland, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan
Group F
England, Slovakia, Scotland, Slovenia, Lithuania, Malta
Group G
Spain, Italy, Albania, Israel, FYR Macedonia, Liechtenstein
Group H
Belgium, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus
Group I
Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland.
Russia qualify as hosts.