FIFA World Cup

2018 FIFA World Cup groups set as three Seattle Sounders learn opponents

Roman Torres Panama

The 2018 FIFA World Cup groups are now set. 


The FIFA World Cup Draw took place Friday morning in Moscow and with it three Seattle Sounders players learned their opponents for next summer's tournament. 


The 32 qualified teams were placed in four pots based on their October FIFA ranking and subsequently drawn into eight groups of four teams each. Hosts Russia were automatically the top seed in Group A despite being the lowest-ranked team.


For Nicolás Lodeiro and Uruguay, they'll encounter host country Russia, African nation Egypt and Saudi Arabia in a very manageable Group A for Lodeiro and La Celeste. Uruguay have previously won the World Cup on two occasions, in 1930 as the host country and in 1950.


Panamanian captain, hero and defender Román Torres will face European power Belgium, England and Tunisia in Group G. This is Panama's first World Cup appearance after Torres scored a remarkable late game-winner against Costa Rica in the final match of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying to send his country to Russia.


Gustav Svensson and Sweden, who upset Italy in a home-and-home World Cup qualifying playoff series, faces perhaps the toughest group joining reigning World Cup champion Germany, Mexico and South Korea. 


Here are the 2018 FIFA World Cup groups after Friday's draw:

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