2018 World Cup draw: Germany face Mexico, Portugal clash with Spain as African sides get tricky groups

Germany will face Mexico in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will open against neighbours Spain, after FIFA conducted the draw in Moscow on Friday.

African sides in the tournament will face tough clashes with Morocco in Spain and Portugal's group, Nigeria will take on Argentina and Croatia.

Senegal will take on Poland, Colombia and Japan, Tunisia will face England and Belgium while Egypt face Russia and Uruguay.

Winners of the 2014 event and FIFA's top-ranked team, Germany will face Mexico before taking on Sweden and South Korea in Group F.

Portugal and Spain, who haven't played since Spain prevailed on penalties in the semifinals of Euro 2012, will meet in Group B alongside Iran and Morocco.

Despite being placed in the second pot of teams, England largely escaped a difficult draw and will face Belgium, Tunisia and Panama.

Hosts Russia, guaranteed a top seed despite being FIFA's lowest-ranked team in the draw, will open the tournament against Saudi Arabia on June 14 at the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, before taking on Uruguay and Egypt.

Lionel Messi and Argentina drew two European teams in Croatia and debutants Iceland, as well as Nigeria. Iceland, the smallest nation to ever play at the World Cup, will play the two-time champions on June 16 at Spartak Stadium in Moscow.

Brazil, the second-ranked team also escaped a major challenge and will face European sides Switzerland and Serbia in addition to Costa Rica.

Based on the draw's results, Brazil have the best odds to win the World Cup at 20.8 percent, followed by Spain at 15.9 percent and Germany at 10.9 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight's Soccer Power Index.

GROUP A: Russia, Uruguay, Egypt, Saudi Arabia

GROUP B: Portugal, Spain, Iran, Morocco

GROUP C: France, Peru, Denmark, Australia

GROUP D: Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria

GROUP E: Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia

GROUP F: Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea

GROUP G: Belgium, England, Tunisia, Panama

GROUP H: Poland, Colombia, Senegal, Japan

After playing each team in their group, the top two teams advance to the knockout stage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin opened the draw ceremony and promised "a great festival" at next year's tournament. On stage with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Putin painted a picture of Russia as a welcoming nation with a rich sports history.

"Our country can't wait to host the World Cup and intends to host it at the very highest level," Putin said. "Anyone who has come to Russia even once knows how we welcome our friends.''

Putin extolled the values of fair play and "friendly and honest competition," values which Russian officials have been accused of betraying when it hosted the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Olympic doping scandals, political tension and controversy around the World Cup bidding process have often overshadowed Russia's preparations for the tournament.

Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko delivered a fierce defense of the country's reputation earlier Friday, painting Russia and its athletes as victims of an international conspiracy to portray the country as "an axis of evil." Mutko also vowed to defend them "to the last bullet."

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