Before Friday’s event we also examine a possible overall group of death and where geopolitics could meet football
Croatia are the highest-ranked potential Pot 2 opponents (10th) and reached the final and the semi-finalis at the past two World Cups respectively but, with a maximum of two European teams in each group, drawing them would eliminate for England the possibility of facing Erling Haaland’s Norway, who are in Pot 3, or Italy, who are in Pot 4, if the four-time champions get through the playoffs in March.
On rankings the worst-case scenario would be Croatia, Panama and Jordan, working on the basis of qualified teams. DR Congo, who are in the playoffs, are the highest-ranked potential Pot 4 team from outside Europe. Ghana could be the trickiest non-European opponents in that pot but it is worth noting that Cape Verde, another Pot 4 team and ranked four places higher, beat them at the Africa Cup of Nations last year.
A more worrying prospect for England could be drawing Morocco, Norway (or Scotland given the rivalry) and Jordan. Europe is the only confederation allowed two teams in a group so drawing Morocco would end the prospect of having to play Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, a Pot 3 team, Ghana or, if they qualify, DR Congo.
