The United States has been drawn in Group B against England, IR Iran and the winner of the last remaining European playoff for the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, while Mexico will face Lionel Messi‘s Argentina.
The last team in the USMNT’s group will be decided in June as either Scotland or Ukraine will face Wales for the final European spot at the World Cup finals.
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Mexico has been drawn in Group C and will face Argentina, Poland and Saudi Arabia, while Canada will face Belgium, Morocco, Croatia in Group F.
The USMNT will play their tournament opener against the winner of the European playoff on Nov. 21, before facing England on Nov. 25 and IR Iran on Nov. 29.
Gregg Berhalter’s side clinched one of CONCACAF’s three automatic qualification places on Wednesday despite a 2-0 defeat to Costa Rica.
The 48-year-old coach will be taking charge of his first World Cup as U.S. boss. He was hired in December 2018, just over 12 months after the country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
“We think it’s a good group — we know every opponent in the World Cup is difficult, but with England you get an exciting match up, with Iran it’s a diverse opponent and they’ve done well in qualifying and then we’ll have to wait to see who the third opponent is,” Berhalter told the BBC.
“Overall pleased with the group and excited to get started.”
The U.S. and England have history at World Cups. In 1950, the U.S. delivered one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when it stunned the heavily-favored English 1-0 on a goal by Joe Gaetjens. The pair met again at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, playing to a 1-1 draw with Clint Dempsey scoring the equalizer for the U.S. after Steven Gerrard’s opener.
The U.S. and Iran have squared off once previously at the 1998 World Cup, with Iran claiming a memorable 2-1 win that had the effect of eliminating the U.S. from the tournament.
Mexico will begin their tournament against Poland on Nov. 22, before playing Argentina on Nov. 26 and Saudi Arabia on Nov. 30.
Weeks of speculation over the future of Mexico head coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino was ended on Friday when the country’s Football Federation announced he will stay in charge until at least the World Cup.
A string of lackluster results for Mexico and issues with Martino’s vision had caused doubt over his position as boss, but Mexico eventually finished second in World Cup qualifying, booking their place in Qatar.
Mexico and Argentina have had some memorable encounters, including a pair of round of 16 matches at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. Argentina prevailed in both matches, winning 2-1 in extra time in 2006 and 3-1 four years later.
Canada kick-off their tournament against Belgium on Nov. 23, before facing 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia on Nov. 27 and Morocco on Dec. 1.
Canada, who came first in the CONCACAF qualification group, last appeared at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, where it lost all three of its games and failed to score a goal.
The tournament will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18, the first time football’s top prize has been competed for in the Middle East.
