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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Tom Kershaw

Women's World Cup 2019 draw: England draw Scotland, Japan and Argentina

England and Scotland have been drawn together in Group D for the Women's World Cup in France next summer.

Scotland are making their debut while England are looking to improve on their semi-final showing four years ago.

The clash between the two home nations will be the first match for both teams in Nice on June 9, when the England men's team will also be playing either in the Nations League final or third-place play-off in Portugal.

England also face a rematch against Japan, to whom they suffered a heartbreaking loss in the last four in Canada, while Argentina are the third team in the group.

We're live in Paris as Phil Neville's England and Shelley Kerr's Scotland wait to find out who they will face in the group stage next summer in the 2019 Women's World Cup. 
 
 
It's a warm welcome to France.
 
There's just 20 minutes to go.
Lionesses legend Alex Scott will be part of the presentation team for the draw, alongside former Manchester United striker Louis Saha, 2007 Ballon D'Or winner Kaka and France's World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps.
 
 
Here's how the teams have been seeded according to their Fifa world rankings:
 
 
England and Scotland could potentially be drawn in the same group
 
 
Phil Neville is here waiting, the theatre is full and we're just moments away from the draw beginning here in Paris.
 
 
First, though, there's a type of indoor opening ceremony featuring a lazer-light show and freestyle footballers.
And now we're preparing to get underway as the presenters take to the stage
And to carry the trophy on to the stage is the captain of the USA's 2015 World Cup-winning side, Carli Lloyd, who scored a first-half hat-trick in the final against Japan three-and-a-half years ago.
 
 
And now former Manchester United striker Louis Saha takes to the stage alongside legendary Lioness Alex Scott, who accumulated 140 caps in her England career.
Alex Scott:
Well I know Phil Neville is here tonight and I'm sure he'll be telling the team bronze is good, but it's about turning that bronze into a gold one and getting the team on that podium.
 
I'm excited for it to unravel, you've got players in different positions, players who have played in World Cups and you've got players who are sitting at home watching today and it's their first time participating so it's a different experience. 
Louis Saha:
It's the highlight of everyone's career to play in the World Cup.
And now 2007 Ballon D'Or winner Kaka takes to the stage to help with the draw.
 
 
Kaka is joined by Japanese icon Aya Miyama, former Premier league winner Michael Essien, 1999 Women's World Cup winner Cindy Parlow Cone and to a great rapture France's 2018 World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps.

What time does it start?

The draw begins at 5pm GMT and will be presented by France's World Cup-winning manager Didier Deschamps, 2007 Ballon D'Or winner Kaka, ex-Manchester United striker  Louis Saha, and former England star Alex Scott.

How does the draw work?

The 24 teams who qualified have been allocated into four pots of seeds via their world rankings with six groups in total. England will be in pot one and Scotland will be in pot three. Only one team from each confederation can be drawn in each group apart from Europe, meaning England and Scotland could theoretically be drawn against one another. Scotland could also end up facing hosts France or defending champions USA.

Pot 1: England, France, USA, Canada, Germany, Australia

Pot 2: Japan, Brazil, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Spain

Pot 3: South Korea, China, Italy, Scotland, New Zealand, Thailand

Pot 4: Argentina, Nigeria, Chile, Jamaica, Cameroon, South Africa

When and where is the 2019 World Cup?

France will host the Women's World Cup for the first time since its inception with the opening match of the competition taking place on 7 June in Paris. 

Matches are split between nine cities with the semi-finals taking place in Lyon on 2 and 3 July. The final will also take place in Lyon on 7 July. 

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