World Cup draw: Teams discover Qatar 2022 groups

The groups are set, now the 233-day countdown to kick-off in Qatar begins.

Actor Idris Elba and broadcaster Reshmin Chowdhury opened the show before a slick draw proceeded without a hitch at the Doha Exhibition Center.

Coaches, players, and fans alike will now have seven months to scout the opposition before hosts Qatar face Ecuador in the curtain raiser on November 21.

The most optimistic can even start plotting routes to the final on December 18, with corresponding fixtures for the knockout stages pre-set.

England, the Netherlands, Argentina, and France will all find themselves on the same side of the draw should they progress from their groups, while the other half could see matchups between footballing powerhouses such as Spain, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, and Portugal.

Domestic seasons around the world will have concluded and then restarted by the time the World Cup rolls around in November but at that point, it’s all eyes on Qatar for the tournament’s first ever winter edition.