The French team, reigning world champions and 3rd in the FIFA rankings, are among the seeds for the draw for the group stage of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18) which will be performed this Friday in Doha (6 p.m. French time). A status that could save him a difficult draw even if there is always a possibility of falling into a strong group. Apart from the European selections, which may be a maximum of two in the same group, teams from the same geographical area will not be able to meet together.
In pot 2, the United States appear, on paper, as the least formidable team for the Blues. The Americans have talented players like Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), but only finished third in the Concacaf qualifying table. On the other hand, it will be necessary to hope to avoid the Mannschaft, quadruple winner of the World Cup (1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014). The Netherlands also have serious assets.
In pot 3, Iran seems to be an affordable opponent, even if it had stood up to Portugal during the last World Cup, losing only by one goal against Spain elsewhere. Senegal, on the other hand, acts as a scarecrow because of its recent title of African champion and its renowned players, like Sadio Mané (Liverpool) and Édouard Mendy (Chelsea). A France-Senegal would bring back very bad memories to the French team beaten twenty years ago, during the 2002 World Cup, by the Lions of Teranga with a goal from Papa Bouba Diop before the fiasco that we knows.
Finally, in hat 4, everything is more open even if the Canada of Bavarian Alphonso Davies or Lille Jonathan David is surprising. Ecuador would be a simpler draw, on the face of it.
The best draw:
FranceUnited States, Iran, Ecuador
The worst draw:
FranceGermany, Senegal, Canada