World Cup 2022 draw LIVE: Stream FREE, TV channel and updates on all groups as England to learn fate for Qatar

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Sergio Aguero was forced to retire from professional football last year due to a heart problem, so he will not be playing at this year’s World Cup.

He recently revealed that he had been offered a staff role with Argentina, however he turned it down as he wants to go to Qatar as a fan.

When speaking to ESPN, he said: “The invitation to be part of Argentina’s staff was on the table.

“I spoke with Chiqui [Tapia, Argentina Football Association president] and I was clear with him about my goal to enjoy my time.

“I’m going to Qatar, but as a fan.

“I have a great relationship with everyone from the national team but I don’t see myself in the coaching staff and with the players on a day-to-day basis. They are asking for a role that isn’t for me right now.

“I had a talk with [Messi], he and Scaloni gave me an idea of what they wanted from me.

“I asked them for some time to think about it and then told Chiqui that I wasn’t ready for that.

“I will be available for any event related to the Argentina national team, as an ambassador but I don’t want a day-to-day responsibility with the team.”

Which countries have won the most World Cups?

Brazil have won five World Cups – more than any other nation.

Germany and Italy have both won the title four times.

Southgate arrives

England manager Gareth Southgate has arrived in Doha ahead of the draw.

The Three Lions are in Pot 1.

“We’re not going to fear anyone”

When asked about the World Cup draw earlier this week, England midfielder Jack Grealish said:

“As a group we don’t really fear anyone. It’ll show in our performances.

“I think I saw something the other day saying that we haven’t been beat over 90 minutes since November 2020 or something like that so I think, yeah, at the moment we have such a confident group and looking ahead to the draw we’re all going to be excited and we’re not going to fear anyone”

Legends arrive

Some of football’s biggest names have arrived in Doha for the draw.

Andrea Pirlo and Kaka have been pictured on the red carpet.

Brazil make history

Seleção Brasileira is the only national team to have played in every single World Cup.

They will mark their 22nd appearance in the competition this year in Qatar.

What happened when SunSport simulated the World Cup draw?

In the simulation, England were put in a group alongside four-time World Cup winners Germany.

The last time the two sides met was at Euro2020 where England came out on top in a 2-0 win.

Africa Cup of Nations winners Senegal were also pulled out of the hat, which would be another concern for Gareth Southgate.

Peru was the final nation revealed.

This would certainly be labelled the “Group of Death”.

What could be the best draw for England?

There are some strong sides in Pot 2 – The USA have a strong squad on paper, but they would arguably be the best side for the Three Lions to face in the group stages.

Tunisia and Saudi Arabia appear to be the least-daunting opponents from Pots 3 and 4 respectively.

What could be England’s toughest draw?

England can only be paired with one other European team so if they draw a Uefa nation in Pot 2, they cannot get Wales or Scotland, should they make it through their play-offs.

On that basis, it seems Germany could pose the biggest risk from Pot 2.

In Pot 3, Senegal – the Africa Cup of Nations champions – appear to be the toughest test, with the likes of Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy in their ranks.

In the final pot, Canada are enjoying a meteoric rise in the global game and could prove a tricky group-stage opponent.

Brazil back on top

Brazil have returned to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time in five years.

They last won the World Cup in 2002.

Debutants

Qatar automatically qualified for this year’s competition due to being tournament hosts.

They will appear in the finals for the first time in history.

Rice looks to cup glory

When speaking to Sky Sports earlier this week, Declan Rice said:

“Nations League semi-final, World Cup semi-final, obviously Euro’s the final, so we want to go one more now.

“Have that cutting edge, that mentality to go and finish off a top tournament.

“As players we’re all playing at a top level, we know what it takes to come up against top opposition.

“We feel like we’re an established side now, we’ve been building something special for a couple of years and I think come the World Cup the lads, the focus, the mentality, everything will be right.”

Cup Soundtrack

The first of many songs on the 2022 Qatar World Cup album has been announced.

Hayya Hayya (Better Together) is the first single of the multi-song Official Soundtrack.

It features Trinidad Cardona, Davido & Aisha.

All to play for

Some nations have not officially qualified for the competition just yet.

Wales earned their place in the play-off final after defeating Austria – they will take on either Scotland or Ukraine where only one nation will make it to Qatar.

Australia and UAE still have to compete for their place in the play-off final where one will face Peru.

Either New Zealand or Costa Rica will make it to the World Cup – the two sides will face each other in June.

Fifa president’s Italy heartbreak

Fifa president Gianni Infantino “really wants to cry” after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup again.

He told Rai Sport: “I really want to cry.

“For all the Italians it is sad, it is the second World Cup in a row in which the Azzurri do not participate.

“And if they qualify for the next World Cup it will be 12 years of absence.”

Pot 4

The final pot includes some nations that have not officially qualified yet, including Scotland and Wales.

• Ecuador
• Saudi Arabia
• Ghana
• Canada
• Cameroon
• Wales/Scotland/Ukraine
• Australia/UAE/Peru
• New Zealand/Costa Rica

Pot 3

Pot three includes the likes of Robert Lewandowski’s Poland and Sadio Mane’s Senegal.

• Iran
• Japan
• Morocco
• Serbia
• Poland
• South Korea
• Senegal
• Tunisia

Pot 2

There are some big names in Pot two, including Germany, Croatia and Netherlands.

• Netherlands
• Denmark
• Switzerland
• Uruguay
• Croatia
• Mexico
• USA

Pot 1

Pot one includes competition hosts Qatar along with the seven best teams in the world, including England.

• Qatar
• Brazil
• Belgium
• France
• Argentina
• England
• Spain
• Portugal

Idris Elba to host draw

Actor Idris Elba will present the World Cup draw with sports anchor Reshmin Chowdhury.

Elba said ahead of the draw: “I’ve been on many stages before, but this will be a very special one.

“I’m delighted to present this beautiful show to the world, together with Reshmin. It will be a classic show and somewhat daring.

And Chowdhury added: “I’m beyond excited. It’s been a thrill to find out the qualified teams and see the anticipation everywhere here in Doha, and it’s a privilege to have such a prominent role in the show.

“As a Muslim woman, it’ll be an extra-special honour to be on stage for this milestone event ahead of the very first FIFA World Cup in the Arab world.”

‘Rainbow flag ban would be unacceptable’

The banning of rainbow flags at the Qatar World Cup would be unacceptable.

That’s the view of anti-discrimination group Football Against Racism in Europe hit back at the proposed flag confiscation.

Fare said: “The LGBTIQ+ community should be allowed freedom of expression and be protected in exercising those rights.

“This is the international norm.

“The rainbow flag will be worn by thousands of people in Qatar, by LGBTIQ+ visitors and regular supporters.

“And the idea that the flag, which is now a recognised and universal symbol of diversity and equality, will be removed from people to protect them, will not be considered acceptable, and will be seen as a pretext.

“We do not expect the local Qatari population or visiting fans to be attacked for wearing the rainbow flag. The bigger danger comes from state actions.”

Qatar plan rainbow flag ban

Rainbow flags could be taken from fans at the World Cup in Qatar to “protect them from being attacked for promoting gay rights”, a tournament security leader has said.

Major General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari insists that LGBTQ couples would be welcomed and accepted in Qatar for the competition despite same-sex relations criminalised in the conservative Gulf nation.

But Al Ansari is against the overt promotion of LGBTQ freedoms as symbolised by the rainbow flag that Fifa and World Cup organisers had previously said would be welcome across Qatar’s eight stadiums.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Al Ansari said: “If he [a fan] raised the rainbow flag and I took it from him, its not because I really want to, to really insult him, but to protect him.

“Because if its not me, somebody else around him might attack [him] … I cannot guarantee the behavior of the whole people.

“And I will tell him ‘please, no need to really raise that flag at this point’.”

Ukraine want friendy with Prem club

Ukraine manager Oleksandr Petrakov wants to play a Premier League side to prepare for his nation’s play-off tie with Scotland.

Petrakov’s got his eyes set on a game at Wembley, preferably with a London club.

He told the Guardian: “We could play at Wembley, for example, against a London club.

“It could be a good exhibition game, a response for the Ukrainian army, as well as preparatory work for the Scotland game.”

Fifa urged to oust Iran from World Cup

Fifa have been urged to kick Iran out of the World Cup by human rights activists for refusing to allow women to watch games in stadiums.

The United for Navid group of exiled Iranian athletes and activists said Iran should be suspended from international football until it changes its stance, the Daily Mail reported.

A statement from the group to Fifa read: “We formally request that FIFA immediately suspend Iran and prohibit its participation in the World Cup 2022 as long as the Football Federation of Iran continues to violate the Olympic Charter and FIFA regulations

I”n the letter, a copy of which was obtained by AFP Friday, it said that Iran had pledged to FIFA that it would end its policy of “gender apartheid” by allowing women to attend matches.

“But not only has Iran broken that promise by continuing to bar women from entering a stadium but women are beaten, abused and threatened.”

De Gea’s anger

David de Gea is reportedly furious at being axed from the Spain squad by Luis Enrique.

According to AS, the Man United stopper didn’t take Enriques decision well and was incensed by his omission.

They also added that De Gea didn’t think Enrique’s choice was justified.