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Kieran King

When is the World Cup draw and which Newcastle United players are hoping to be involved

There is just under eight months until the World Cup gets under way in Qatar. Newcastle United could have a number of players at the tournament as they look to bring home international success for their countries.

Unlike in the past, this year's World Cup will take place in the winter, rather than the summer months due to extreme heat. The tournament kicks off on Monday, November 21 at the Al Bayt stadium in Al Khor with a game that will feature the host country.

The final will be played at the Lusail Stadium in Doha a week before Christmas on Sunday, December 18. So, with that in mind, here is all you need to know about the draw.

READ MORE - Newcastle recall left-back after baffling loan

When is the World Cup draw?

28 of the 32 teams at the tournament are expected to be known by the end of March. The final three places will be decided in the intercontinental play-offs in June, while the final European qualifying play-off final will take place in the summer which has been delayed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The draw for the World Cup takes place on Friday, April 1, at the DECC venue in Doha at around 5pm BST. You can follow the draw live on Sky Sports. The 32 nations will be split into eight groups of four, with every team playing at least three games.

Host nation Qatar will be in position one of Group A and the other countries will be split into four pots based on FIFA rankings. Each group will have no more than one nation from any confederation, aside from Europe.

Which Newcastle players are set be involved?

With Brazil already qualified for the tournament, Bruno Guimaraes is set to be in the squad for the tournament. The 24-year-old was named in the camp to take on Chile and Bolivia and is expected to be part of the 23-man contingent for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Kieran Trippier could be included in the England squad. Gareth Southgate booked their place in Qatar back in November and the 31-year-old was an integral part of the team that reached the Euro 2020 final. There is some stiff competition at full-back, however, and Trippier is pushing to be preferred.

Chris Wood and Emil Krafth are set to play in World Cup qualifying finals in an attempt to get to the tournament. Wood's New Zealand face the Solomon Islands in the Oceana final, while Krafth's Sweden take on Poland on Tuesday, with the two winners booking a place in Qatar.

Ryan Fraser and Fabian Schar are the other two players who could be at the competition. Fraser, who hasn't been included in the recent Scotland squad, could feature for Steve Clarke's side in their play-off semi-final against Ukraine in June, with the winner set to face Wales.

Meanwhile, Schar's Switzerland are already qualified for the World Cup, having earned their place back in November. Dan Burn, Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximim are amongst the other players who could push for an international call-up with England and France respectively.

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