FIFA president Gianni Infantino delivers a speech next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament final draw at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. -AFP

 

MOSCOW: The 2010 World Cup winners Spain were placed in the same group as Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in an exciting draw for the 2018 tournament in Russia on Friday.

Neymar's Brazil meanwhile will have to negotiate a group including Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.

Holders Germany will face Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they try to retain the title for the first time since Brazil in 1962.

Lionel Messi and his Argentina team which struggled to qualify will play European debutants Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria.

England must negotiate Kevin de Bruyne's Belgium, surprise packages Panama and Tunisia after they were placed together in the draw in the Kremlin.

Spain's other opponents in a tough-looking Group B are Morocco and Iran.

France will play Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C.

Host nation Russia will face Saudi Arabia in the tournament-opening match on June 14 in Moscow.