The FIFA World Cup Draw is happening TODAY! Claudia Pagán, Nico Cantor, Ian Joy, Geoff Shreeves, and Jimmy "Buckets" Eimer make their predictions for who they think will be takin

There are 12 groups of four teams, with each playing the others once in a round-robin. Three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw, with the top two teams advancing directly to the knockout stage. In the World Cup's new format, eight of the 12 group third-place winners also move on to the Round of 32.

FIFA issued a statement on Thursday night which said that the Iranian football federation had reversed its plans to boycott the FIFA World Cup draw, with the world football governing body saying the nation has sent a delegation to the United States to attend the event.

Football clubs are forced to pay outstanding transfer fees even if doing so runs the risk of violating banking restrictions and sanctions against Russia.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — FIFA is weighing up the introduction of new refereeing technologies and stricter timekeeping rules at the 2026 World Cup as it looks to build on trials conducted at this year's Club World Cup in the United States, senior officials said on the eve of the World Cup draw.

FIFA referees' chief Pierluigi Collina said he is in favour of using VAR to rule on corner kicks at next summer's World Cup.