Rankings key as FIFA shakes up Cup draw

New, simplified format follows 2014 confusion

ZURICH - FIFA announced on Thursday a new and simplified format for the 2018 World Cup draw, with countries to be grouped by their place in the world ranking rather than their continent.

Soccer's world-governing body said that the 32 teams would be divided into four pots, with the seven top-ranked teams plus host Russia in Pot 1, the next eight ranked teams in Pot 2 and so on.