England were drawn against Iran, the US and one of Wales or Scotland in the group stage at the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
Gareth Southgate sat by as his side was drawn into Group B in Doha.
After the hosts from Group A, the Three Lions were second to be drawn from the pot.
England will be looking to improve on their performance at the Euros last year, where they lost to Italy on penalties.
Southgate’s team was so close to the final World Cup final that they lost 2-1 to Russia in the semi-final.
This would have been the Three Lions first World Cup final since 1966. It was their only triumph on the biggest stage.
England won eight matches and drew two to qualify for the winter tournament.
However, there is still uncertainty as to who they will be facing alongside Iran and the US.
How Scotland and Wales can reach the finals
To reach the finals, Wales will face a playoff against either Scotland nor Ukraine. The match to determine who plays Wales has been postponed due to Russia’s invasion. It will take place in June.
The winners will then face Wales to secure a spot in Qatar.
The Welsh will be making it to the finals for a first time since 1958, when the Scots reached the finals.
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Southgate is happy to ignore the strongest sides
Southgate, who spoke after the draw, refused to declare that he was happy but said that he was glad to have avoided the strongest side.
He stated, “When you are seeded you have the advantage of missing some of the big teams.”
The USA is an intriguing place. Gregg Berhalter, USA manager, is someone I know. We talk frequently, and in fact, we only spoke a few weeks ago. It’s an interesting one, as they have some great players.
“The USA and Iran were the first two teams we had not played in a while. The third team, however, is unknown. This could lead to a British derby. We know their names.”
Berhalter stated that he hopes Scotland and Wales are disappointed.
The coach from the USA stated that Ukraine is a country you are pulling for due to all that’s going on there. “I hope they succeed.”
He said that the England match was an “exciting match-up” and Iran was a “tough opponent.”
Gary Lineker, a former England striker, described it as “something to look forward too” on Twitter.
The rest
Qatar – A controversial choice
Since it was given to the Gulf State in 2010, the 2022 tournament has been fraught with controversy, not least because of the climate.
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To cope with extreme heat, the event was moved from summer to December and November.
Critics also point to the country’s treatment of migrants and its poor record in human rights.
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