International Foxes Learn FIFA World Cup Finals Opponents
- Seven members of the Leicester City squad could potentially feature at the FIFA World Cup Finals next June
- Kasper Schmeichel’s Denmark were drawn against Euro 2016 finalists France
- Kelechi Iheanacho will hope to replicate last month’s stunning performance against Argentina, as Nigeria prepare to face Jorge Sampaoli’s men in Russia
- Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire could line up against Belgium in Kaliningrad
- Shinji Okazaki will hope to be involved for Japan, who will face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in Group H
As it stands, a total of seven Foxes could potentially be in action next summer after Denmark, England, Nigeria and Japan all secured qualification to the finals of the tournament earlier this year.
Kasper Schmeichel, whose nation beat the Republic of Ireland 5-1 on aggregate in last month’s play-off, may face a former Foxes team-mate after Denmark were drawn against N’Golo Kanté’s France.
The Danes kick-off their Group C journey on 16 June against Peru in Saransk before facing Australia in Samara five days later. Then, on 26 June, they head to Moscow to take on 2016 European Championships finalists France.
Over in Group D, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi and Ahmed Musa face a stern test after Nigeria were handed a campaign consisting of Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.
The Super Eagles kick off their World Cup Finals involvement against Croatia on June 16 in Kaliningrad, before taking on Iceland in Volgograd on 22 June and finally Argentina, who Iheanacho scored against last month, on 26 June in St. Petersburg.
Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy may meet a number of the Premier League’s most talented players in Group F after England were pitted against Belgium – the world’s fifth-ranked team.
That fixture will take place in Kaliningrad on 28 June, but first, Gareth Southgate’s men open their group campaign against Tunisia in Volgograd 10 days prior, before an encounter with Panama in Nizhny Novgorod on 24 June.
Finally, Shinji Okazaki – Japan’s third-highest goalscorer of all time – saw his nation drawn in Group H alongside Colombia, Senegal and Poland.
On 19 June, in Saransk, Okazaki’s men take on Colombia, while clashes with Senegal in Ekaterinburg on 24 June and Poland in Volgograd on 28 June follow.