MIAMI, Florida – On Friday, the Draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup took place in Doha, Qatar during which Concacaf representatives Canada, Mexico and the United States, along with Intercontinental Play-Off side Costa Rica, learned who their group stage opponents will be when the tournament begins on November 21.
After qualifying for their first World Cup in 36 years, Canada will square off against Belgium, Morocco and Croatia in Group F.
Canada did not face any of their three opponents in their previous World Cup appearance at Mexico 1986, so it will be a first-time World Cup meeting in all three matches.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Croatia made a memorable run to the Final before eventually falling to France, 4-2. Meanwhile, Belgium enjoyed a strong performance, reaching the semifinals and finishing in Third Place. Morocco were also at Russia 2018 and were quite competitive in their group, earning a 2-2 draw with Spain.
Mexico have been drawn into Group C where they will face a familiar foe in Argentina. The two sides met in the 2006 and 2010 editions in the Round of 16, with Argentina winning both matches, 2-1 in extra time in 2006 and 3-1 in 2010. Argentina also defeated Mexico 6-3 in the inaugural World Cup in 1930.
El Tricolor will also take on Poland and Saudi Arabia in the group. There is history between Mexico and Poland in the World Cup, as the two sides met in the group stage at Argentina 1978 where Poland emerged with a 3-1 victory.
While there have not been any World Cup matches between Mexico and Saudi Arabia, they have met on three different occasions in the FIFA Confederations Cup. Mexico won all three contests, downing Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the 1995, 5-0 in the 1997 tournament and 5-1 on home soil in the 1999 edition.
The U.S. will also get a crack at some former World Cup opponents in Group B against England, Iran and the winner of the UEFA Playoff, which will be one of Scotland, Ukraine or Wales.
The U.S. are unbeaten all-time in World Cup meetings with England, winning 1-0 at Brazil 1950 and then earning a 1-1 draw at South Africa 2010. The U.S. also have history of playing against Iran in World Cups, suffering a narrow 2-1 defeat at France 1998.
Meanwhile, the U.S. have never faced either Scotland, Wales or Ukraine in a World Cup setting, so that match will represent a first World Cup meeting.
Should Costa Rica defeat New Zealand in the Intercontinental Play-Off in Doha, Qatar on June 13 or 14, the Ticos will slot into Group E against Spain, Germany and Japan.
While the only meetings that Costa Rica have had with both Spain and Japan have come in international friendlies, the Central Americans have played Germany previously in a World Cup.
At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Costa Rica took on the host nation in the opening match and went toe-to-toe before falling 4-2. The hero of the day for the Ticos was Paulo Cesar Wanchope, who scored both Costa Rican goals, making him the only player in Costa Rican history to have scored two goals in a single World Cup match.
