FIFA 2018 World Cup Draw: As it happened...

So, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off with Russia-Saudi Arabia match on June 14 next year in the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow.

A musical presentation and the draw comes to an end.

So, the draw:

Group A: Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay
Group B: Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran
Group C: France, Australia, Peru, Denmark
Group D: Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria
Group E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia
Group F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea
Group G: Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, England
Group H: Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan

Japan in Group H, along with Poland, Senegal, and Colombia.

Panama in Group F, with Germany, Mexico, and Sweden.

Nigeria in Group D, along with Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

Australia in Group C, along with France, Peru, and Denmark.

Morocco in Group B, along with Portugal, Spain, and Iran.

Serbia in Group E, along with Brazil, Switzerland, and Croatia.

Saudi Arabia in Group A, along with Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.

Thar leaves with the final pot with: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia.

Sweden land in Group F with Germany and Mexico. Then, Tunisia in Group G with Belgium and England. Another African outfit, Senegal in Group H, along with Poland and Colombia.

Egypt join Russia and Uruguay in Group A. Denmark's turn, and it needs a skipping as they can't go to Group B as it already has Portugal and Spain. They are in Group C with Argentina and Croatia.  Iran's turn, and the Asian giants go in Group B with Portugal and Spain. Iceland, the giant-killers, in Group D with Argentina and Crotia.

Now, it's the turn of POT 3. And the teams are - Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran. And Cafu will pick the balls.

Diego Maradona then picks Mexico, and in Group F with Germany. Joachim Low is already swooning. Then, it's England in Group G with Belgium. So, that leaves Colombia in Group H with Poland.

Croatia in Group D with Argentina with Diego Forlan doing the honours of picking the ball. Switzerland in Group E with Brazil.

Uruguay in Russia in Group A. Spain in Group B with Portugal. This group will have no more European teams. Then, Peru in France on Group C.

Now we have the Pot 2 teams: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.

Brazil in E, Germany in F, Belgium in G, and that leaves Poland with automatically in H. These are the seeded teams, leading their respective groups.

Russia at A1, as we all know. Portugal in Group B, France in C, Argentina in D.

And exquisite ballet performance, followed by a video footages from the previous editions of World Cup on the giant screen for everyone to see. Game's greats at display. And with that starts the draw...

Miroslav Klose with the trophy. What a sight. A World Cup legend. “It’s a wonderful trophy,” he says. By the way, he's the top scorer in the history of the World Cup.

Infantino hopes for an "absolutely amazing experience" for everyone next summer, then Putin said, “friendship and fair play are eternal values".

FIFA boss Gianni Infantino welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to give the welcome address.

Draw balls and trophy are in place:

All set !  #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/iygVHOzxYu

— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) December 1, 2017

Cafu just shared a backstage photo of living legends together, and FIFA  asks, rightly: How much would this team be worth in today's transfer market? 

Backstage!!! #WorldCup #FIFALegends pic.twitter.com/D5xYzougPO

— Cafu. (@officialcafu) December 1, 2017

By the way, the World Cup kicks off June 14, with Russia’s first game, in Moscow. It concludes there on July 15. Germany are the defending champions.

England international Gary Lineker will conduct the draw along with Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya. They will be assisted by Nikita Simonyan, Diego Forlan, Diego Maradona, Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro and Carles Puyol. Besides, Miraslov Klose will also be present on the stage.

The coaches are arriving thick and fast at the State Kremlin Palace! #WorldCupDraw pic.twitter.com/OCafNKa8Zp

— #WorldCupDraw  (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2017

Let's have a look at all 32 teams qualified for the finals and the pots.

POT 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France.
POT 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia.
POT 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Egypt, Senegal, Iran.
POT 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korean, Saudi Arabia

Here's how the draw will happen. Explained.