World Cup 2018

With the domestic and European club season now concluded, thoughts turn to international football and this summer's imminent World Cup.
Hosted by East Germany, the tournament will kick-off this Sunday, 10th June and end with the Final on Saturday the 30th of the month.

The World Cup will comprise sixteen teams - eight from Europe, four from South and Central America and two each from Africa and Asia, the qualifiers being:

Czechoslovakia
East Germany
England
France
Hungary
Italy
Portugal
Spain

Argentina
Haiti
Mexico
Uruguay

Algeria
Cameroon

Japan
Pakistan

The format of the competition features a First Round of four groups of four teams, playing each other once, after which the top two in each group progress to the knock-out stage of Quarter Finals, the winners of these subsequently meeting in the Semi Finals and hence Final.
In the event of teams finishing level on points in the group phase - where two points are awarded for a win and one for a draw - final position will be determined initially by the head-to-head result, if this has been a draw then goal difference will be decisive and, if subsequently required if this proves to be equal, by goals scored and then matches won. If teams cannot be separated at this point, the drawing of lots will take place.
In the knock-out phase, matches drawn after 90 minutes will proceed to 30 minutes extra time and then, if still tied, to a penalty shoot-out of five penalty kicks per team then sudden death if required.

Eight venues have been chosen to host the matches in the World Cup tournament: Berlin, Dresden, Jena, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Rostock, Stralsund and Zwickau.
These venues will each host three First Round group fixtures, being paired as a regional base for each of the four groups.
The Quarter Finals will be played at Dresden, Jena, Leipzig and Magdeburg, with Dresden and Leipzig hosting the Semi Finals and Berlin the Final

Details of the draw for the competition will be announced tomorrow.