In preparation for the kick-off, I highly recommend you take advantage of the FIFA Winners Bracket Poster which you can download for free. Use it as a handy reference guide. You just mark the winners in the space allocated on the poster and keep up with the tournament.

Re-cap of the 2022 FIFA Winners Bracket

1. All the Stages of the World Cup Explained

This Week Featuring the Red & White Flags of the World Cup

This week, the focus is on Groups E & F. Before I dive into it, I’m inspired this week by the Community of Madrid.

The Community of Madrid features a crimson red and white flag, so I did a quick check of the nations competing in the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Red & White Flags.

The FIFA World Cup has 8 nations flying the red & white, including the host nation Qatar. They are:

1. Japan, since 1999 – the “Hinomaru” symbolizes the rising sun and Japan’s position at the far west of the Pacific Ocean, so the sun rises over the Japan in the East.
2. England, since the early 1990s – the national flag of England is from Saint George’s Cross.
3. Canada, since 1965 – a red maple leaf for “the one leafed” flag.
4. Denmark, since 1219 – one of the oldest flags in existence featuring the ‘Nordic cross’
5. Switzerland, since 1889 – the “Swiss cross”
6. Tunisia, since 1827 – the Cresent and the star
7. Poland, since 1919 – equally red and white, the Polish national colors
8. Qatar, since 1971 – not so much red but maroon and a serrated white band. The width is officially more than twice its height.

Quick overview of the Confederations

Let’s recap the Confederations of FIFA and the World Cup Representation

• Africa (CAF): 5
• Asia (AFC): 4 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
• Europe (UEFA): 13
• North/Central America & Caribbean (CONCACAF): 3 (plus 1 playoff qualifier)
• Oceania (OFC): 1 playoff qualifier
• South America (CONMEBOL): 4 (plus1 playoff qualifier)

Absent from this World Cup is a representative from Oceania, as the OFC representative needed to win the inter-confederation play-off against the fourth-placed team from CONCACAF.

In Group E, we have the winners of the play off, Costa Rica, who defeated New Zealand (1-0) to earn their place.

So, CONCACAF gets 4 teams through, and Oceania missed out in 2022.

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Group E on the World Cup Poster

Spain and Germany, a tough draw

Draw Place	Nation	Confederation	FIFA Ranking
E1	Spain	UEFA	#7
E2	Costa Rica	CONCACAF	#31
E3	Germany	UEFA	#11
E4	Japan	AFC	#24

Notes: AFC – Asian Football Federation; CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football; UEFA – Union of European Football Associations;

The numbers on the poster reflect the game order (64 games in total) and the date the match will be decided. For Example, In Group E, Game 43 is Japan v Spain, played on 1st December.

World Cup Poster: Group E

Average ranking: 18.25

How Does Spain and Germany end up in the same Group?

Warning! More Seeds and Pots information ahead. If you aren’t yet familiar with the concept, you can read about it here. And this group needs some explanation.

Before the draw (which decides the Group Draw), FIFA ranks all the teams from 1-32. The ranking is as per March 31, 2022. If you open the link, make sure you have selected “All” and “Date: 31 Mar 2022”.

The Top 8 Teams went into Pot 1, including the host nation, Qatar. The top seed in Group E is Spain, and Germany at that time was ranked #12.

Which means Game #28 is going to be world class football in the Group Stage, featuring a game of two completely different styles. The creativity of Spain on one hand, making defending unpredictable and notching up the difficulty. However, Germany’s defensive capability is their strength. We’ll be watching to see how the German defenders match a strong attacking side (or two if you count Japan). This is my “Game to Watch” which you can read more about about here.

Japan (AFC)

The Samurai Blue. Firstly, hello, waiting for my call up if you are reading. I am still able to apply for a Japanese passport (in theory) and time is running out. Just saying.

I’m trying not to show my obvious bias, but I am hopeful of Japan not being sent home at Group Stage.

The team will be announced on 1st November (spoiler alert: I’m not on it). If they can win their first game against Germany, they stand a very good chance of going through.

Costa Rica (CONCACAF)

The final team to qualify. And of course, they weren’t able to get through based on the CONCACAF qualifying matches alone. They are currently ranked 3rd on the CONCACAF behind Mexico and the USA. But this confederation is not the most competitive draw.

Still, they have been making a name from themselves in the World Cup History books being the only team from CONCACAF to win a match at a World Cup (which they have done five times). And the only team to get through the Round of 16 from the region (twice). Proving they are nothing, if not determined.

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World Cup Poster: Group F

Average ranking: 19.25

Draw Place	Nation	Confederation	FIFA Ranking
F1	Belgium	UEFA	#2
F2	Canada	CONCACAF	#41
F3	Morocco	CAF	#22
F4	Croatia	UEFA	#12

Note: CAF – Confederation Africaine de Football, Africa; CONCACAF – Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football; UEFA – Union of European Football Associations

Belgium & Croatia (UEFA)

Belgium was sitting at #1 in the world as recently as Feb 2022 and is fielding their “Golden Generation” of football stars. They burst out of the UEFA qualifying round in 1st place. And have star players like Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois.

They’ve never held the trophy. And Croatia was 2018’s runner-up.

Canada (CONCACAF)

Canada topped the qualifying rounds to land their SECOND World Cup appearance. They will soak up every one of the 90 x 3 minutes awarded to them in this tournament. And we can confidently say that they will be joined by nearly 38 million Canadians cheering them on. Confidently because 72% of Canadians watched the 2018 World Cup and the Canadian team weren’t even playing.

Morocco (CAF)

Morocco is a strong chance from the CAF Region, and they also have stars to draw in the crowds. Most notably Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain. They have 5 World Cup experiences to boast of. However, they need to topple either Spain or Germany to break free of the Group Stage. And Canada may just be the thorne in their side stopping them from adding 3 points to the table.

The Top 2 from Group E & F will meet each other in the Round of 16. Fill in the FIFA Winners Bracket as the game progresses

The Top 2 Teams from Group E & F will play off in the Round of 16. In game 53, the top E team will verse the 2nd F team; Game 55 will be the top F team against the 2nd E Team. Then, only the winners from the Round of 16 will advance to the Quarter finals. Be sure to record your winners in the space on your FREE World Cup Poster.

Your FREE World Cup Winners Bracket Poster comes in landscape mode (A4 size)

This post has been about your FREE Downloadable 2022 FIFA Winner’s Bracket and FIFA Groups E & F.