At World Cup 2022, England will face USA, Iran and Wales – so what are they all like?
(Image credit: Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
The 2022 World Cup draw has been made, with England facing Iran and the USA in the group stage of the tournament.
The third opponents, however, are yet to be decided. In June, Ukraine will play Scotland, with a play-off against Wales waiting for the winner. One of the three nations will be in Group B in Qatar.
So should England be worried about their opponents?
USA
(Image credit: Getty)
One of the last countries to have qualified for the 2022 World Cup, USA are currently at the start of a cycle, with young stars being bedded into the team. They didn't breeze through qualification – and though they won the last edition of the Gold Cup, this is widely considered as an inexperienced crop.
There are still top players in the squad though capable of hurting England. Premier League fans will be most aware of Chelsea star Christian Pulisic, the talisman of the side, while Gio Reyna, Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie all play for top European sides. Elsewhere, there are bright young stars such as Yunus Musah and Brendan Aaronsen who are looking to make a name for themselves on the global stage.
2022 will come too soon for this group, with the US targetting home soil in 2026 as the tournament for them to really make an impact. Worse US sides have got results against big nations in the past though – yes, including England in 2010 – so they're not to be underestimated.
Iran
(Image credit: Getty)
Iran made it all the way to the semi-finals of the last Asian Cup, where they were beaten by Japan. A year earlier in 2018, the Middle Eastern nation beat Morocco and drew with Portugal at the World Cup.
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There's a chance, too, that the Iranians will feel more comfortable since they're closer to home – the Persian Gulf separates the countries – and while they're not a world-beating nation, English fans will recognise Alireza Jahanbakhsh from his Brighton days.
Besides Jahanbakhsh, however, Iran aren't too much of a threat. Most of the squad play in Iran and if Team Melli don't finish bottom of their group, they'll have had a decent tournament.
Wales
(Image credit: Getty)
This is the last chance for arguably Wales' greatest-ever side to give their fans a World Cup to remember and as has been proven time again since 2016, the Dragons are capable of performing no matter how their players are performing at club level.
Gareth Bale will be playing in the MLS next season, while the likes of Brennan Johnson and Dan James will be hoping to build on development in the past season. The Welsh have proved that they're a much tougher opponent than the sum of their parts in the past – and Gareth Southgate will be sure not to underestimate a side who can trouble this England team.
A disappointing Euros, however, may be a sign of the side dwindling: while Aaron Ramsey and Bale are approaching their twilights, this might be a bridge too far for some of the younger stars.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
