The countdown to the 2018 World Cup ramps up significantly on Friday when the draw for next summer's tournament in Russia takes place.  Sportsmail previews how it will all happen.

Spain are paired in the same group as Portugal for the World Cup next summer, while Russia host Saudi Arabia in the tournament's opening game as England are handed favourable draw.

The World Cup is always an intense battle of the best national football teams in the world to see who comes out on top, but there is another contest going on - the battle of the kits.

European football's governing body announced the three countries had all 'expressed interest' in staging June 2019's semi-finals and final of the inaugural competition.

The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2018 is on after the draw for the finals in Russia — and here is your brilliant Mail on Sunday wallchart to get yourself ready for the tournament.

Get yourself ready for the World Cup with our brilliant sweepstake kit. It's a fun way for you and your friends to follow the tournament - and have someone to cheer on when England go out!

Bayern Munich striker appeared hard at work on Monday as Adam Nawalka's squad trained ahead the tournament. Poland have two friendlies still to play against Chile and Lithuania.

Whether you storm to glory or go out early, a World Cup strip can sometimes be the most memorable aspect of a team's tournament. Sportsmail ranks all the 2018 strips here.

Here is the full fixture list for the World Cup in Russia. We've split them up day by day and also by group to make it easy to follow and plan which games you will be watching.

There are 12 arenas hosting World Cup games with Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium kicking things off as well as bringing the show to and end with the final on July 15. Here's our guide to them all.

The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot was won by Colombia's James Rodriguez, who set the tournament alight with six goals and goal of the tournament before earning a transfer to Real Madrid.

Optus won the rights to stream all 64 games of the World Cup to Australian audiences via their online and mobile services. But thousands of viewers were left frustrated by a troubling error message.

Viewers of the match between Argentina and Iceland on Saturday night were forced to sit through delays of up to three minutes - prompting claims for paying customers to be compensated.

A number of notable matches are coming up on Tuesday, June 19 in the 2018 World Cup. Here's a look at the matches as well as how to watch them and what the current standings are.

Sportsmail's CHRIS SUTTON gives his verdict ahead of an action-packed day of World Cup football as he tips tournament hosts Russia to beat Egypt with or without star man Mo Salah.

Robert Lewandowski is 'an example' to young players everywhere, according to his coach Adam Nawalka, but there is more to this Poland side than the Bayern Munich star's goals.

When it comes to Robert Lewandowski, the numbers do not lie. He scored 41 goals in the season just gone, and hit 43 the year before. He has 55 in 95 games for Poland.

The Google Doodle for Tuesday, June 19 2018 celebrates the World Cup 2018 teams from Groups A and H playing today, including Russia, Egypt, Colombia, Japan, Poland and Senegal.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for the World Cup 2018 clash between Poland vs Senegal including how to watch, kick-off time, squads and latest odds.

Idrissa Gueye's deflected shot put Senegal into the lead after a dull first-half before M'Baye Niang latched onto a Grzegorz Krychowiak error to double his side's advantage.

Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski launched a scathing attack on his own team after a World Cup defeat by Senegal left them in danger of missing out on a last 16 clash with England or Belgium.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for the World Cup 2018 clash Poland vs Colombia including how to watch, kick-off time, squads, stats and latest odds.

Poland were sent crashing out of the World Cup as Colombia kept their dream alive with a resounding victory in Kazan on Sunday night. Relive the action with Sportsmail's JAMES DUTTON.

JOHN HELM AT THE KAZAN ARENA: It was billed as the match neither side dare lose. As it turned out it was as one-sided as you can get. Colombia put performance against Japan firmly in the past.

Find out who made the cut for every team taking part in Russia. We've listed the 23-man squads for each of the 32 nations going for glory at the greatest tournament on the planet.

After the incredible drama of Wednesday's World Cup matches, Groups G and H could well provide a similar level of excitement. Here, Sportsmail runs through all the permutations...

They both play on Thursday, against Japan and Tunisia respectively, and if they manage to score then it will be the first time in the World Cup's history that all teams have scored twice.

Surprise Group H leaders Japan know that a draw will be enough to take them through to the knockout stages of the tournament in Russia. Poland have already been knocked out.

HOT OR NOT: Radamel Falcao looks reborn for Colombia at the World Cup

The experienced Nawalka, whose team were eliminated after losing their opening two Group H games in Russia, will leave his position at the end of the month after five years at the helm.

Jerzy Brzeczek will take over as the new manager of Poland after a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw them finish bottom of Group H. Adam Nawalka will leave the post after five years.

Germany's home clash with France is the most mouth-watering tie on Thursday, as the reigning World Cup winners look to continue their dominance with victory over the 2014 champions.

The UEFA Nations League inaugural weekend continues tonight as Italy host Poland, while Scotland are also in action in a friendly with Belgium. Follow the action here with MICHAEL SEARLES .

Jorginho made up for an uncharacteristic error leading to Poland taking a deserved first-half lead by scoring a 78th-minute penalty to ensure Roberto Mancini avoided defeat in his first competitive game.

Portsmouth striker Ronan Curtis has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for Tuesday night's friendly in Poland. The 22-year-old has been added to a depleted party for the game in Wroclaw.

Poland coach Jerzy Brzeczek has warned his players not to treat Tuesday night's friendly clash with the Republic of Ireland as a party for Robert Lewandowski.

CRAIG HOPE IN WROCLAW: Poland manage to salvage a draw in their friendly with the Republic of Ireland after Mateusz Klich cancelled out Aiden O'Brien's debut goal on Tuesday evening.

Italy prepared for Sunday's UEFA Nations League clash with Poland with a training session in the Florence sunshine. Roberto Mancini watched on as the late afternoon sun beat down.

Roberto Mancini very much put his Italy players through their paces as they look to claim their first victory in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday night against Poland.

Cristiano Biraghi has paid tribute to his former Fiorentina team-mate, the late Davide Astori, after scoring a last-gasp winner for Italy against Poland. Astori tragically passed away earlier this year.

Sportsmail provides you with everything you need to know for UEFA Nations League including how it works, groups, fixtures and how it impacts EURO 2020 play-off system.

Wojciech Szczesny will be tasked with keeping the ball out of the net when Poland face the Czech Republic. But he has been showing his team-mates how it is done at the other end of the pitch.

Portugal boss Fernando Santos felt his side deserved the point in Italy which earned them qualification for the Nations League finals.

James Forrest's hat-trick inspired Scotland to a come-from-behind win over Israel that secured promotion in the Nations League on Tuesday night.

Arkadiusz Milik's second half penalty cancelled out Andre Silva's opening goal for Portugal as the Nations League finalists were held in Guimaraes on Tuesday night.

England secured their place in the Nations League semi-finals but they will now have a close eye on the Euro 2020 qualification draw as they look to keep their momentum going.

Gareth Southgate's men are among the top seeds and will be in a five-team group while Wales and Scotland will join Germany in pot two and Northern Ireland and the Republic in pot three.

Arsenal players looked fired up ahead of their clash with Manchester United on Wednesday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang posted a video on his Instagram page.

Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi has been handed his first England Under-21 call-up as he continues his rise. The forward has been included for the friendlies against Poland and Germany.

Aidy Boothroyd's side are in preparation mode for the European Championship finals as they trained at St George's Park on Wednesday ahead of friendlies with Poland and Germany.