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Draw of 2018 FIFA World Cup unveils

Xinhua, July 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

The draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia unveiled here on Saturday night.

Out of the 52 teams in European zone, 13 winners will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Two group winners and two group runners-up in the Asian region will qualify for the World Cup, while the round four winner will advance to the Intercontinental Play-offs with team from North, Central America and Caribbean zone.

Ten teams in South American zone would fight for the four spots for the World Cup, while the fifth placed team advances to the Intercontinental Play-offs with an Oceanian team, which would earn the first place after three rounds of matches with other seven teams from the same region.

Top three placed teams of the all 20 from North, Central America and Caribbean zone would qualify for the World Cup, while the fourth placed team will have to prepare for another match with the round four winner in Asian zone to fight for qualification for World Cup.

Another five winners out of 40 teams in African zone would join altogether 32 national teams, including that of the host nation, in the finals tournament, assuming the current format of the finals is maintained.

Round matches in confederations are expected to end generally in November of 2017, while the 2018 FIFA World Cup is scheduled from June 14 to July 15.

Russia won the bid for 2018 World Cup in December of 2010. This will be the first World Cup held in the area of the former Soviet Union and the first since 2006 to be held in Europe.

Speaking at the beginning of the qualification draws, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised earlier in the day that Russia would do everything to ensure the safety and maximum comfort for football fans from all over the world. Endi