FIFA’s big idea is to create the best chances for successful qualifiers in the later stages of the World Cup.
Thus, for the first time a special seeding status is granted to the top four in the world ranking: Spain, Argentina, France and England.
Crucially, this status will only apply if countries win their groups.
Let’s take a look at how it will work, using England as an example.
Each of the four countries will be included in a group in a different colored quadrant of the group, as shown in the image below.
Spain (1st classified) and Argentina (2) must be in opposite camps and cannot face each other until the final, just like France (3) and England (4).
France and England would not be able to face either Spain or Argentina until the semi-finals.
Let’s say France comes out first and enters Group C, placing them in the green quadrant on the right side of the draw. That means England can only enter the blue or turquoise quadrants on the left side, groups E, F, G, H or I.
If Argentina then falls to the blue quadrant, that will further restrict England to only turquoise: groups G or H.
Are the four seeds being given an easy path? Not necessarily.
Each quadrant has a possible tie in the round of 16 between two group winners. For example, the blue quadrant has a matchup between the winners of Group E and Group I. That means that a seeded team could face another pot on one side, say perhaps Brazil.
Being included in groups C, F, H or J seems potentially more favorable, since it is not possible to face another group winner until the quarterfinals.
If one of the four seeded teams finishes as group runner-up, they will lose the privilege of qualifying.
So if England finished second in Group H, they would go from turquoise to red, perhaps facing Spain, Argentina or France as winners of Group J in the first knockout round.
