Image source, Fifa

Fifa's big idea is to set up the best chance of blockbuster ties in the latter stages of the World Cup.

So for the first time it is giving special seeding status to the top four in the world rankings - Spain, Argentina, France and England.

Crucially, this status will only apply if the countries win their groups.

Each of the four countries will be drawn into a group in a different coloured quadrant of the bracket, as shown in the image below.

Spain (ranked 1) and Argentina (2) must be in opposite halves and cannot meet until the final, likewise France (3) and England (4).

France and England would not be able to meet either Spain or Argentina until the semi-finals.

Co-hosts Mexico will be put into Group A. Canada will be in Group B and the USA will be in Group D.

They will have coloured balls with their flags on so Fifa know which group to put them in.

That's so their group games will be in their own country.

And Spain and Argentina must be kept in opposite sides of the draw - and the same for France and England.

That's because Fifa has arranged it so the top four seeds cannot meet until the semis.

England know that they cannot be Group A, Group B or Group D with one of the co-hosts.

For Scotland and the play-off teams, anything is possible right now.

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live in Washington DC

Before the draw begins, Fifa will be handing out its inaugural 'Fifa peace prize'. Currently in there is a two minute slot in the running order for the recipient to speak with some acceptance remarks.

I think everyone will fall over in shock if it is not Donald Trump who receives that.

Nick Marsh
reporting from Singapore

Yem Haslii, who works as a football coach here in Singapore, tells me that while he’s excited to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in what could be their last World Cup appearances, but has been an England supporter for more than 25 years, saying he thinks they have "the maturity and firepower this time round".

Asked how he feels watching without his own country taking part, he says: “As a Singaporean, it’s always a little disappointing not seeing our flag represented. But realistically, It’s extremely tough to qualify when we’re up against Asian heavyweights like Japan and South Korea. I will still enjoy the tournament.”

Besides Japan and South Korea, Yem is also curious to see how Saudi Arabia perform. “With so many international stars now playing in the Saudi league, those standards and experiences could lift the national team.”

He adds: “As for Jordan and Uzbekistan, since it’s their first time at a World Cup, it’s possible they might struggle at this level. I wouldn’t be surprised if they exit in the group stage, but it will still be a huge milestone for them.”

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live in Washington DC

It’s the biggest World Cup that there’s ever been. The first 48-team World Cup. It does feel like that as well. It does feel like the whole footballing world is here from every corner of the globe because so many countries are represented.

Four pots. 12 balls in each pot. Pot one is drawn, then two, then three, then four, and somehow that is going to last 56 minutes.

Image source, Getty Images

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live in Washington DC

I think any potential toughest group has to have the potential of Italy in it from pot four.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Much of the talk about potential nightmare groups has included Italy, naturally when you consider the four-time World Cup winners will be in pot four if they qualify.

But Wales and Northern Ireland will both be hoping the Azzurri don't make it that far.

Italy will host Northern Ireland in their play-off semi-final on 26 March later and, five days later, the winner of that tie will travel to face the winner of Wales' home semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Wales beat Austria and Ukraine in their play-off semi-final and final to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, and they'll be hoping two more notable wins in Cardiff will do the trick next year.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand will be the "conductor" of the draw.

His assistants will be Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal, who are all legends in the main North American sports I'm sure.

They're all being called up on the stage slowwwwwwwwwwwly.

And what a perfect segue that is to this next entry.

Sorry Owen, you'd never make a Fifa draw master.

South Korea and Uzbekistan can't be in the same group because they're both Asian.

There can be a maximum of two European countries in any group. There can only be one team from any of the other continents per group.

And in the inter-continental play-offs they will be kept apart from any country in any of the continents involved.

So for example the Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname play-off path team cannot be in with any countries from Asia or the Americas.

Nobody is being kept apart for political or war reasons.

Uefa Play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland

Uefa Play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden

Uefa Play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania

Uefa Play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia

Fifa Play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia

Fifa Play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname

Read who plays who in the play-offs here.

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.

Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand plus six play-off winners.

There will be 48 teams in this World Cup, instead of the usual 32.

That is 12 groups of four teams each.

The top two of each group go through to the last 32, where they will be joined by the eighth best third-placed teams.

And then the knockout stages start with the same amount of teams who usually compete the whole World Cup...