This Friday, December 1st at 10AM EST. The show will last for an hour with a 30-minute pre-show and a 30-minute post-show.

The rules in drawing the 8 groups of 4 (for those who are unaware):

1. 1 country from each of the 4 pots will be drawn into each of the 8 groups
2. no group can have more than 1 country from any confederation except a group can have up to 2 countries from UEFA (~ Europe)
3. the 4 pots, for this World Cup, are divided by the October FIFA rankings except that the host country (Russia) will automatically be put into pot 1

Here are the pots:

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

First time participants this World Cup are Panama and Iceland.

Typically 1 group is noted as the "group of death" which typically consists of at least 3 countries that would likely qualify in any other group. This year it is most likely that the "group of death" will be any group that draws Spain. Most countries will want Russia as they are the weakest of the pot 1 countries. Also of note, no country outside of Europe or South America has ever won the World Cup or even been to the championship match. This is also the 1st World Cup in Eastern Europe.

With the United States out, and deservedly so after a poor and heartless performance in qualifying...

a) Are you going to watch the World Cup next summer?
b) Are you going to watch the draw this Friday?
c) What country/countries are you cheering for?
d) Who is your pick to win it all?

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For myself:

a) Yes
b) Yes
c) In order: Iceland, England/Australia, any Africa country, any Asia country, Upsets
d) Only once (Sweden, 1958) out of 10 previous World Cups in Europe has a non-European country (Brazil) won the World Cup - note that the other 3 semifinalists were European (Sweden, France, West Germany). Only 6 out of the 40 semifinalists from those 10 previous European-hosted World Cups were non-European countries (Brazil 4x, Uruguay, Argentina). Therefore, my guess would be a European power. My gut says Germany, France, or Spain. My somewhat realistic heart says Belgium or England. However, I am always up for a surprise!