The draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place later today, having the potential to throw up some very interesting groups ahead of the tournament in Qatar later this year.
Every tournament always features a 'group of death', featuring a number of quality teams that could go in a number of different directions.
We have identified some of the possible instances we could see in the 2022 edition, ranking some of the most intriguing possibilities.
As a reminder, each group will consist of one team from each of the four pots. Here's how they are constructed, based on FIFA world rankings and Qatar's status as the host nation (three places are yet to be confirmed):
Pot 1: Qatar, Brazil, Belgium, France, Argentina, England, Spain, Portugal
Pot 2: Mexico, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Uruguay, Switzerland, United States, Croatia
Pot 3: Senegal, IR Iran, Japan, Morocco, Serbia, Poland, South Korea, Tunisia
Pot 4: Cameroon, Canada, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, Wales or Scotland / Ukraine, Costa Rica or New Zealand, Peru or Australia / United Arab Emirates
There are also a couple of other caveats to the draw.
No more than two European teams can be drawn in the same group, while no teams from the other confederations can be placed together. In other words, we won't have more than one team from South America, Africa, North America, or Asia in any given group.
In picking our groups, we have tried to use a bit of variety by selecting a few different nations from the given seedings.
With that cleared up, here are our five most intriguing 'group of death' possibilities.
2022 FIFA World Cup group of death possbilities
5. Belgium, Netherlands, Senegal, Canada
This could be a very exciting group. Belgium have just ended a four-year run as the world's number one ranked side, while they also play some of the most attractive football on the international scene.
In pairing them with the Dutch, you get a local derby against a team who have no shortage of quality themselves. In Senegal you have perhaps the best side outside of Europe and South America, while Canada are an exciting young team on the rise that could take a scalp or two.
Those two European sides have also been known to fail to show up on the big occasion in the past, leaving plenty of room for chaos in this group.
4. Brazil, Netherlands, Serbia, Cameroon
Brazil and The Netherlands are two of the most storied World Cup nations, even if the Dutch have never actually won the competition. Considering their absence from the last World Cup, seeing them take on the Brazilians would be a brilliant reintroduction.
Serbia are one of the more underrated international sides around at the moment, possessing some incredible talent scattered around Europe's biggest leagues. It is worth remembering that they topped a qualifying group featuring Portugal (and Ireland) and were clearly the best team in that group.
Cameroon are another team with an excellent history in this tournament and are always capable of pulling off a big result.
3. England, Uruguay, Serbia, Cameroon
Considering the draws they have received in the last couple of major tournaments, it would be nice to see England get stuck with a bit of a nightmare draw. Their presence in Pot 1 makes that a bit more difficult, although there are a few intriguing possibilities.
One of those involves placing them alongside Uruguay, a side who knocked them out of the 2014 World Cup and look perfectly suited to frustrating the hell out of Gareth Southgate's side. Throw in the quality of the Serbs and the unpredictable Cameroonians, and all of a sudden you have a tricky little path to the knockout stages for the defeat Euro finalists.
2. France, Germany, Senegal, Canada
Something about this group just screams excitement. You have the defending champions and one of the strong favourites to life the trophy this year in France, as well as an emerging Germany team who also happen to be local rivals.
Senegal are a quality side filled with a number of familiar names that could make a good run in this tournament, with Canada a team that will want to impress in their first World Cup appearance since 1986.
It has the potential to go a number of ways.
1. England, Germany, Senegal, Ecuador
This would be the most exciting group we could see at this year's World Cup.
England and Germany in a group would be fascinating to see, especially when you add in the defeat experienced by the Germans in this fixture at the Euros. Since then, new manager Hansi Flick has introduced a number of young players and completely rejuvenated the side.
You get the sense that they would love another crack at Southgate's men, with the subplot of Bayern wunderkind Jamal Musiala possibly featuring after turning down the chance to play for England adding yet another layer to the narrative.
Senegal would be the ideal third seed for reasons we have already mentioned above, although adding a South American side to the group would be interesting.
Ecuador impressed in qualifying, finishing fourth ahead of the likes of Colombia and Chile to reach the tournament. While they may not feature a number of household names, the fact that they took points off each of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in qualifying suggests they could upset the apple cart at some point in Qatar.
This is the group you should all want to see.
SEE ALSO: Roy Keane Lambastes Exuberant Ireland Celebrations Vs Lithuania
