The 2018 World Cup is fast approaching, with the opening battle of the 64-match festival of football set to kick-off in just six days time.

The build-up to the tournament is in full swing which means there will be offices up and down the country that will be rolling out their own World Cup sweepstake, or may have already done so.

Here is a brief guide to each team so you can work out whether you are more likely to be planning for a lucrative windfall or be walking away empty-handed.

Group A

Russia – The Russians are probably the most controversial hosts of this global showpiece of all time, at least until Qatar host it in four years time.

Political reasons aside, they won't be tipped by many to star at their own championships and are likely to be the worst-performing host nation since South Africa in 2010. Unless, of course, Vladimir Putin can provide them with some gentle inspiration.

Also in contention to finish bottom of the most inventive nickname competition, with their 'Sbornaya' moniker translating to 'The National Team'. Yawn.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Saudi Arabia – In fact, Russia might not even be the most controversial team in their group. That award may go to regular headline-grabbers Saudi Arabia.

On the pitch, they have frequently been the whipping boys in the past, with their darkest World Cup moment coming in 2002 when they suffered an 8-0 defeat to Germany. Expect a fourth-place finish.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Egypt – The Pharoahs were probably not going to be one of people’s preferred teams until Liverpool’s Egyptian king Mo Salah burst into our lives.

Sadly those hopes were extinguished when he got injured in the Champions League final following a now infamous altercation with Real Madrid and Spain captain Sergio Ramos.

We should all be rooting for Egypt to get through to round two, where they could meet Ramos’ Spain…

Verdict: Second round.

Uruguay – Everyone’s favourite part-time cannibal Luis Suarez has had a quieter time of late, having settled down since his impromptu mid-match snack on Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini’s shoulder in Brazil four years ago.

He should lead Uruguay through the group, but probably not too much further.

Verdict: Second round.

Group B

Portugal – The defending European champions will once again have Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line as they aim to do the ultimate international football tournament double.

He will no doubt be looking to make the World Cup all about himself so expect goals, or one amazing goal, or one very important goal.

Something newsworthy, anyway.

Verdict: Quarter-finals.

Spain – Suffered an embarrassing group stage exit four years ago as their 2010 title defence went so badly that they’d barely got through baggage claim before they were eliminated.

Despite this, they will be expected to go far once again, although they may lose the neutrals support after Ramos’ altercation with Salah.

Verdict: Semi-finals.

Morocco – Typical. You get to your first World Cup in 20 years, and then you get lumped with both Portugal and Spain in your group.

It means that Morocco will probably have to beat Iran in their opening game to have any realistic chance of qualifying, so a defeat in that could mean game over on just day two of the tournament…

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Iran – See above, although Iran have been more regular participants, having qualified in 1998, 2006 and 2014.

However, they only won once in their nine games across those three tournaments and that was against the USA who haven’t even qualified themselves.

If you’ve got either of these guys, then maybe just try and enjoy the football. Why does it have to be about winning, anyway?

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Group C

France – Ah, the French. Always a bit of a mixed bag. They won the 1998 World Cup, and then lost in the first round in 2002. They then reached the final in 2006, and then lost in the first round in 2010.

Last time out they were a little bit more middle-of-the-road, reaching the quarter-finals.

Midfielder Paul Pogba, now of Manchester United, was named the tournament's Best Young Player. He will be a key figure again, despite always seeming more interested in how up to date his Instagram feed is than his job of winning football matches.

Verdict: Semi-finals.

Australia – Ah, the Aussies. Never a mixed bag. They usually make little impact on the tournament, so again it’s not usually a sweepstake pick to set the pulses racing.

However, they haven’t been dealt the worst group ever, with their chances of qualifying ahead of Peru and Denmark slim but not impossible.

An unlikely success could be needed back home after their beloved cricket side’s scandals of late.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Peru – It’s a first appearance at the tournament for the South American boys for 36 years. None of their 2018 squad were alive when the country last qualified in 1982.

They have been boosted by the news that their captain and talisman Paolo Guerrero has been cleared to play in Russia despite being served with a drug ban.

Hugo Lloris, Mile Jedinak and Simon Kjaer - the captains of Peru's Group C opponents France, Australia and Denmark - even signed a letter of support for his inclusion. Can't imagine Harry Kane getting that sort of treatment...

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Denmark – Group C isn’t going to be the best group to watch if you’re Irish.

The Danes beat them in the playoffs to qualify for the tournament, and they won’t need reminding about Thierry Henry’s misdemeanour at the same stage of qualifying for 2010.

Denmark aren’t a bad side and are blessed with Tottenham star Christian Eriksen. They are potential dark horses, but a second round exit to Argentina is most likely on the cards.

Verdict: Second round.

Group D

Argentina – England’s classic foes. As ever, they will be relying on their leading light Lionel Messi, for whom it could be his last chance of glory on the ultimate stage, with the superstar set to be 35 when the 2022 tournament rolls around.

Always in with a shout of winning the top prize.

Verdict: Quarter-finals.

Iceland – England’s contemporary foes. The Three Lions probably won’t live down the defeat to the islanders in the Euros two years ago.

Their World Cup debut means their now continentally-recognised Viking Thunderclap is set to finally grace the world stage.

A spot in the second round is about the best they can realistically hope for.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Croatia – Now more well known as a burgeoning holiday destination, but their football team isn’t bad either.

The Croats have finished third in their group on every occasion since their run to the semi-finals in 1998, but their squad is packed with quality, with the midfield duo of Real Madrid's Luka Modric and Barcelona's Ivan Rakitic likely to be pivotal to the nation's hopes.

Verdict: Second round.

Nigeria – Have an outside chance of qualifying for the second round, but would probably end up losing to France if they did make it that far.

If nothing else they will win the award for best kit with this stunner below.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Group E

Brazil – Will still be reeling from their 7-1 humiliation on home soil four years ago, when eventual winners Germany slaughtered the South Americans in front of their own fans.

Now the pressure is relieved – somewhat – and the Selecao are always a strong shout for landing the top prize.

If you’ve drawn these guys, you should be feeling fairly smug.

Verdict: Winners.

Switzerland – The epitome of average. They had won nine matches out of nine in their World Cup qualifying group before realising that they were drawing too much attention to themselves and lost their last game to drop into second place.

Almost always reach the second round, but never go any further than that.

Verdict: Second round.

Costa Rica – You may remember them from four years ago when these footballing powerhouses were held to a creditable 0-0 draw by plucky underdogs England.

They did do brilliantly to get as far as a quarter-final penalty shootout with the Netherlands before bowing out, but you shouldn’t expect similar to happen again.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Serbia – This eastern European squad has a Manchester feel to it, with the side captained by former City left-back Aleksandar Kolarov, while one of their prized assets is United star Nemanja Matic.

The Serbs aren’t the most talented of the 32 sides but will be a tough nut to crack, with likely leading striker Aleksander Mitrovic’s booking 22 seconds into his Newcastle United debut perhaps a sign of what to expect.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Group F

Germany – About as safe as a safe bet comes. The Germans have reached at least the semi-finals of every World Cup since 2002 and have reached at least the quarter-finals of every edition since 1954, winning four titles along the way.

If you’ve got them, you know your interest will go right the way into the final week of the tournament. And you just know you're onto a winner if they face a penalty shootout...

Verdict: Semi-finals.

Mexico – Mexico have their 39-year-old captain Rafael Marquez in the squad despite US allegations that he had links with a major drug trafficking organisation less than a year ago.

Despite this, he will be at Russia ready to lead his team at his fifth World Cup.

The Mexicans will probably be battling Sweden for second spot, and it's a battle from which they may just emerge victorious.

Verdict: Second round.

Sweden – Now without their retired star and only man to hold a candle to Cristiano Ronaldo in the ‘biggest ego’ competition - Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The Swedes will miss their talisman but are still strong enough to get through the group and will likely be battling Mexico for second spot.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

South Korea – A lot of time has passed since their remarkable run to the semi-finals of their home tournament in 2002, and they haven’t done an awful lot since.

Much like Australia, it isn’t inconceivable that they could steal second place in front of the above pair, but it’s unlikely.

Despite this, the Taeguk Warriors would at least be in line to land any ‘coolest nickname’ award.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Group G

Belgium – This is a squad oozing with Premier League talent – there are 13 Premier League players in their 28-man squad – but they have struggled to harness their full potential as a team so far.

Their likely path will see them come up against Brazil or Germany in the quarters, but they are still your real dark-horses to win.

Verdict: Quarter-finals.

Panama – Every World Cup needs a debuting nation, and the 2018 representative for that role is this Central American nation, more famous for its hats than its football.

A first-round exit beckons, but stranger things have happened, and they will be the neutrals’ pick.

Who knows, they could be the Iceland of 2018? England fans will hope otherwise…

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Tunisia – One of those nations that qualify on a regular basis without ever really doing anything when they get there. With Belgium and England in the group you would expect that to continue.

But if Panama could be this year’s Iceland then maybe Tunisia could be this year’s Algeria, who held England to a goalless draw in 2010.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

England – Here we go again. It seems that after every tournament humiliation the country’s expectation of our boys drops further and further, so maybe we are at our lowest ebb following the infamous Iceland loss of two years ago.

Nonetheless, Gareth Southgate has done well to manage media and fan expectation and there is an exciting young squad going to Russia, although that won’t stop most people dreading pulling this one out of the sweepstake hat.

We probably won’t win, but a quarter-final run is a good bet, and who knows after that? OK, we probably do know…

Verdict: Quarter-finals.

Group H

Poland – The Poles will be pleased with themselves after they took advantage of Fifa’s flawed ranking system to creep into the top seeding group ahead of Spain (yes, I don’t know how either).

As a result, they are the highest seeded nation in what is probably the weakest group in the tournament, meaning they will be well-placed to get through, but don’t hold your breath on them advancing any further.

Verdict: Second round.

Senegal – Famous for their 1-0 defeat of defending World Cup champions France in 2002, a result which helped eliminate the French from the group stage.

The African side themselves reached the quarter-finals that year, but this is their first return to the global showpiece after three consecutive qualification failures.

Led by Liverpool star Sadio Mane, the Lions of Teranga (a rival for South Korea’s nickname crown) will hope to squeeze through an evenly-matched group.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.

Colombia – The South American side will have their sights set on winning Group H on the way to replicating their run to the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago.

James Rodriguez was the breakout star of that World Cup, and the Bayern Munich midfielder will need to find similar form if they are to do so.

Verdict: Second round.

Japan – See South Korea. Japan haven’t done a great deal on the world stage despite qualifying for every edition of the tournament since their 1998 debut.

Like South Korea, their draw has been somewhat kind to them, probably even more so in that they have avoided all of the big guns.

In fact, Japan are probably the most likely of the four Asian sides to reach the knockout stages, although they still may not make it through.

Verdict: Group-stage exit.