World Cup 2022 draw simulated as England given difficult group stage opponents in Qatar - The Mirror

England will learn their fate in the official draw for the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Friday, but Mirror Football have already run the competing nations through our very own simulator, with some interesting results

England will discover their group-stage opponents at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar during FIFA's draw ceremony on Friday.

The Three Lions were a roaring success in qualifying, topping Group I with an undefeated record of eight wins and two draws, and reaffirmed their credentials ahead of the winter tournament with friendly victories over Switzerland and Ivory Coast over the last fortnight.

But Gareth Southgate's side - which reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup - know much trickier tasks lie in wait for them in the Middle East.

England have earned a spot in Pot 1 ahead of the draw and could therefore face Germany or Netherlands in the group stage - and Mirror Football's own 2022 World Cup draw simulation produced such a match-up. Without further ado, here are the results in full...

According to the simulator, England managed to avoid their old foes Germany in the group stage, though the hoodoo of their rivalry has been somewhat banished by the victory over them in the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

The Portugal-shaped ghost of England's past is yet to have been exorcised, but the Three Lions avoided Cristiano Ronaldo in our practice draw, along with Luis Suarez's Uruguay and semi-final opponents at Euro 2020, Denmark.

Instead, it was Louis van Gaal's Netherlands side who were plucked from Pot B to join England in Group C in Qatar. The two nations were last pitted in the same group of a major tournament back at Euro 96, with the Three Lions running out 4-1 winners on a momentous afternoon on home soil.

How far will England go in Qatar? Let us know in the comments section.

Southgate will remember that fixture well, and would be more than happy with a similar result against what would be England's toughest opponents on paper. Joining Netherlands were two tricky yet rather unknown quantities as far as England are concerned, in tournament minnows Iran and Ghana.

Meanwhile, should Wales or Scotland qualify for the tournament, they could land a favourable draw in Pot A along with hosts Qatar, as well as Serbia and USA respectively.

Holders France landed a tricky schedule in Group H with Uruguay, Poland and long-time World Cup absentees Canada in what could arguably be deemed the Group of Death. Ronaldo's Portugal facing off against Germany is the other tasty group stage fixture to emerge from the simulated draw, with Tunisia and the winner of New Zealand and Costa Rica joining them.

Here's how the Mirror Football draw panned out...

Simulated World Cup draw

Group A

Qatar

USA

Serbia

Ukraine /Scotland/Wales

Group B

Spain

Mexico

South Korea

Ecuador

Group C

England

Netherlands

Iran

Ghana

Group D

Brazil

Switzerland

Senegal

Saudi Arabia

Fancy trying your own draw? Try our World Cup simulator here.

Group E

Belgium

Denmark

Morocco

UAE/Australia/Peru

Group F

Portugal

Germany

Tunisia

Costa Rice/New Zealand

Group G

Argentina

Croatia

Japan

Cameroon

Group H

France

Uruguay

Poland

Canada