ENGLAND have been drawn against bogey team Croatia, Ghana and Panama in the World Cup group stage.
Thomas Tuchel was present in Washington DC on Friday as the Three Lions were handed a tricky trio of opponents at next summer’s finals.
US President Donald Trump was among the thousands present as Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand led the draw.
But the former England star didn’t do his nation any favours as they came up against bogey team Croatia.
They beat the Three Lions in the 2018 World Cup semis.
But England have won two of the following three fixtures between them since, with the other being a draw.
The Three Lions also faced Panama in the 2018 group stage, beating them 6-1.
And England’s only game against Ghana was a 2011 friendly that ended in a 1-1 draw.
Tuchel’s team will be in Dallas or Toronto to play Croatia on June 17, Ghana in Toronto or Boston on June 23, and Panama in either New York or Philadelphia on June 27.
If England are allowed to stick with their preferred base in Kansas City, that will be quite a lot of travelling for the team.
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The Three Lions also face a tough route to the final, with potential knockouts clashes against Mexico, Brazil and Argentina on the horizon.
Hosts Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum presented the pre-draw show in front of a packed house at the Kennedy Centre, although fans weren’t too impressed with their efforts.
World Cup Group Stage Draw
GROUP A
Mexico
South Africa
South Korea
Winner playoff D
GROUP B
Canada
Winner playoff A
Qatar
Switzerland
GROUP C
Brazil
Morocco
Haiti
Scotland
GROUP D
USA
Paraguay
Australia
Winner playoff C
GROUP E
Germany
Curacao
Ivory Coast
Ecuador
GROUP F
Netherlands
Japan
Winner playoff B
Tunisia
GROUP G
Belgium
Egypt
Iran
New Zealand
GROUP H
Spain
Cabo Verde
Saudi Arabia
Uruguay
GROUP I
France
Senegal
Winner playoff 2
Norway
GROUP J
Argentina
Algeria
Austria
Jordan
GROUP K
Portugal
Winner playoff 1
Uzbekistan
Colombia
GROUP L
England
Croatia
Ghana
Panama
Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli kicked things off with a beautiful rendition of Nessun Dorma.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino then turned into an entertainer as he encouraged the crowd to chant “USA”, “Canada” and “Mexico”, having had to stop host Hart from blurting out secret details about the final’s half-time show.
Next it was the turn of pop stars Robbie Williams and glamorously-dressed Nicole Scherzinger, who performed the official World Cup anthem “Desire.”
And ahead of the draw itself, Infantino awarded President Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize.
After the World Cup trophy was brought out by Argentina manager and 2022 winner Lionel Scaloni, US President Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada Prime Minster Mark Carney drew their respective nations out of the pot.
A performance from American star Lauryn Hill then followed before the draw finally got underway.
Ferdinand was tasked with co-ordinating things, but not before showing off his newly-found acting chops.
He was helped out on stage by a number of US and Canadian sports legends, including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal.
The tournament’s first game sees hosts Mexico take on South Africa in Group A.
And Scotland face a mammoth task to progress after being drawn against Brazil and Morocco in Group C.
Group H has seen Spain, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia put together.
While Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland face each other with France and Norway in Group I.
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