The long wait is finally over as the final draw for the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup is set to take place in the beautiful Moscow’s state Kremlin Palace today, December 1, 2017.
The ceremony will determine the preliminary groups for the 32 participating teams as they battle for glory.
As the excitement and anticipation continues, world governing body FIFA have decided to employ the services of Former England striker Gary Lineker alongside Russian sports journalist Maria Komandnaya as host for tonight's ceremony.
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All 32 teams have been grouped into four pots based on the October 2017 FIFA ranking.
One team from each pot will make up a group but only UEFA teams are able to be drawn with each other, with a maximum of two European nations in the same group.
Aside Europe, other teams from the same continent cannot be grouped together as the regional foes are kept apart until the round of 16 at the earliest.
READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about the 2018 World Cup draw
As tension continues to grow, NAIJ.com is on ground to bring you live updates and minute-by-minute account of the final draw. The event is set to start 4pm (Nigerian time).
5pm' We have our groups for Russia 2018. The opening game will be between Russia and Saudi Arabia and it will kick off in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 14, 2018.
5pm' Japan are the last team to be grouped are they are in Group H
Group H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
Japan
4.56pm' Panama are in Group G
Group G
Belgium
Panama
Tunisia
England
4.55pm' South Korea are in Group F
Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
South Korea
4.54pm' Serbia are in Group E
GROUP E
BRAZIL
SWITZERLAND
COSTA RICA
SERBIA
4.53PM' Nigeria are in Group D with Argentina again
Group D
Argentina
Iceland
Croatia
Nigeria
4.53pm' Denmark are in Group C
Group C
France
Australia
Peru
Denmark
4.53pm' Morocco are in Group B
Group B
Portugal
Spain
Morocco
Iran
4.53pm' Saudi Arabia get Russia, Uruguay and Egypt in Group A
Group A
Russia
Uruguay
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
4.52pm' Senegal get Poland and Colombia in Group H
Group H
Poland
Senegal
Colombia
4.51pm' Tunisia get Belgium and England in Group G
Group G
Belgium
England
Tunisia
4.50pm' Sweden get Germany and Mexico in Group F
Group F
Germany
Mexico
Sweden
4.50pm' Costa Rica get Brazil and Switzerland in Group E
GROUP E
BRAZIL
SWITZERLAND
COSTA RICA
4.49pm' Iceland get Argentina and Croatia in Group D
Group D
Argentina
Croatia
Iceland
4.48pm' Denmark get Peru and France in Group C
GROUP C:
France
Peru
Denmark
4.47pm' Iran get Portugal and Spain in Group B
Group B
Portugal
Spain
Iran
4.46pm' Egypt join Russia and Uruguay in Group A
Group A
Russia
Uruguay
Egypt
4.45pm' Colombia get Poland in Group H and that is the end of pot 1 and pot 2
Group H
Poland
Colombia
4.44pm' England get Belgium in Group G
Group G
Belgium
England
4.43pm' Mexico get Germany in Group F
Group F
Germany
Mexico
4.42pm' Switzerland have been grouped alongside Brazil in Group E
Group E
Brazil
Switzerland
4.41pm' Croatia have been grouped alongside Argentina in Group D.
Group D
Argentina
Croatia
4.40pm' Peru have been grouped alongside France in Group C.
Group C
France
Peru
4.38pm' Spain have been grouped alongside Portugal in Group B. A tough group it's looking like already.
Group B
Portugal
Spain
4.37pm' Uruguay have been placed in Group A alongside Russia. So the group looks like this for now
Group A
Russia
uruguay
4.36pm' Poland complete the teams in pot A as they have been placed in Group H
4.35pm' Belgium are in Group G
4.35pm' Brazil are in Group E while Germany are in Group F
4.34pm' Argentina have been drawn in Group D
4.33pm' Portugal have been placed in Group B while France are in Group C
4.32pm' Russia, automatically goes into A1. They will be in Group A as they await their opponents.
4.31pm' Host for tonight Gary Lineker is out. Here we go
4.30pm' And now some legends are coming out. We have Maradona, Diego Forlan and others. They are accompanied by women dressed as Russian dolls. It looks weird.
4.25pm' All time highest goal scorer at the World Cup Miroslav Klose brings the trophy to the stage.
4.18pm' What is a ceremony without music. The attendees are thrilled with good music and performance a dance group.
4.15pm' Opening remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino done.
4.10pm' Infantino says: "My thank goes to Russia, the president and people as well as the 11 host cities for bringing us together this evening.
"In a few minutes we will know what the opening match of the World Cup will be as well as who plays who, where and when. We have Gary Lineker, top scorer in 1986 as well as record goalscorer Miroslave Klose in the room. Pele is here as well. Celebrate football here in Russia and all over the world. Enjoy yourself. Thank you very much."
4.05pm' Now it is the turn of FIFA president Gianni Infantino as he gives his speech.
4.05pm' Infantino says "Russia has a passion for football and have had many outstanding players over many generations.
"The most coveted trophy will be won by the team showing the most resilience. I would like to wish success to all the teams and I call upon all loyal fans to come to Russia and enjoy the finals of 2018.
"Thank you to all the Russian people who have worked hard over the last seven years to bring us one step further to the final tournament. Thanks to all 11 Host Cities who are doing a tremendous job"
4.04pm' Putin says “friendship and fair play are eternal values”
4.03pm' Russian president Vladimir Putin giving a very powerful speech. But before he did, there was a bit of comedy as Putin tells Infantino to put his headphones on so he can understand his speech.
4pm' And we are off... The hosts of tonight's ceremony are Gary Lineker and Maria Komandnaya. Russian president Putin and FIFA president Infantino are on stage.
3.45pm' Super Eagles legends Okocha and Kanu arrive at the event.
3.25pm' Ex-footballers, Diego Forlan of Uruguay, Marcel Desailly of France, Fernando Hierro of Spain and former Ballon d'or winner Ronaldinho have also arrived at the venue.
3.10pm' Some of the coaches have arrived. Joachim Low of Germany, Carlos Queiroz of Iran, Gareth Southgate of England and Jorge Sampaoli of Argentina have all arrived at the State Kremlin Palace.
3pm' The Nigeria Football Federation official delegation to the FIFA World Cup draw have arrived the venue.
2.57pm' Former France and Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc and ex-German international Miroslav Klose just walked into the hall.
2.50pm' Barely two and the half hours to the Final Draws of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr arrives at the Moscow’s state Kremlin Palace.
He was one of the first to arrive at the venue.
Nigeria Super Eagles qualify for 2018 FIFA World cup - on NAIJ.com TV
Source: Naija.ng