World Cup 2006 draw. Seeding's announced

Last updated : 03 December 2003 By Michael Morris
There are 7 pots. Wales are in pot 4 and will be selected against teams from pots 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6. Possibly even with a team from group 7.

Should Wales be in a group of 7 then a couple of the fixtures could be played on friendly dates. Club v Country rows could ensue. Full rules below.

It is possible that Wales could be drawn in a group that includes England, Ireland, Scotland and Northern Ireland. But that would never happen, would it? Wales cannot be drawn against any other team in pot D.

The draw takes place tomorrow (Friday Dec 5th) at 1600hrs UK time.

Pot A
1. France
2. Portugal
3. Sweden
4. Czech Republic
5. Spain
6. Italy
7. England
8. Turkey

Pot B
1. Netherlands
2. Croatia
3. Belgium
4. Denmark
5. Russia
6. Ireland Republic
7. Slovenia
8. Poland

Pot C
1. Bulgaria
2. Romania
3. Scotland
4. Serbia and Montenegro
5. Switzerland
6. Greece
7. Slovakia
8. Austria

Pot D
1. Ukraine
2. Iceland
3. Finland
4. Norway
5. Israel
6. Bosnia-Herzegovina
7. Latvia
8. Wales

Pot E
1. Hungary
2. Georgia
3. Belarus
4. Cyprus
5. Estonia
6. Northern Ireland
7. Lithuania
8. Macedonia FYR

Pot F
1. Albania
2. Armenia
3. Moldova
4. Azerbaijan
5. Faroe Islands
6. Malta
7. San Marino
8. Liechtenstein

Pot G
1. Andorra
2. Luxembourg
3. Kazakhstan

Teams will be divided into three groups of seven and five groups of six.

The top side in each group will qualify for the finals automatically along with the two best-placed runners-up.

The other six second-placed teams will then be paired off to play each other over two-legged play-offs for the remaining three places.

Hosts Germany are the only country who do not have to qualify for the event.

For the first time in the tournament's history the reigning champions, Brazil, have not been given an automatic place at the finals.

The ceremony will also feature the draws for the group stages in Africa, Oceania, North and Central America and the Caribbean, and Asia.

No draw will be made for South America because the qualifying tournament is a league competition which is already underway.