As many already know, the FIFA world cup will be taking place in Russia during the summer of 2018, but the preliminary matches have already started to decide who will make it to the final games. The United States did not qualify this year, but many other countries did to their own surprise. Countries like Tunisia and Sweden are coming back for the first time in over 12 years. In the case of Sweden, this is quite the big accomplishment, as their national star player Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently retired.

The powerhouse teams of Brazil (holding the most world cup champion titles), and the reigning champion for the last FIFA world cup, Germany, are expected to come out strong and dominate in 2018 as they have in the past. The 32 countries that qualify are arbitrarily divided into eight different groups (labeled A-H), with four countries in each group.

England was grouped in with such countries as Tunisia and Panama, which seems promising for their chances. Other groups were filled with more competition, as Spain and Portugal are together in Group B.

While many may want to predict that the end result will be either Germany or Brazil, nothing is certain. Anything could happen in these games, and even though Russia is ranked as one of the lowest teams competing, there is something to be said about home field advantage. At this point, though, it’s all up for grabs.