The fairytales have been written, all positions have been filled and, in eight short months, the 2018 FIFA World Cup will kick off in Russia.

MORE: De Rossi refuses to go on for Italy: 'Why the f***?' | Jurman: Socceroos always had complete faith in Postecoglou's tactics

But first, there's the group stage draw. Who will Australia face and how does the new format work? We've broken down what you need to know ahead of the draw.

WHEN IS THE 2018 WORLD CUP DRAW?

Good news if you’re looking for an excuse to avoid putting the Christmas tree up: the draw will be held on Friday, December 1.

Could take all day (it won’t). Can’t possibly assist in decorating a fake tree with breakable items.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

FIFA have attempted to simplify the draw for the 2018 World Cup with the 32 teams now divided into four pots with the seven top-ranked teams - plus hosts Russia - in pot one, the next eight-ranked teams in pot two and so on.

The countries will be divided into eight groups of four from A to H with each side playing three times before the top two advance to the second round.

WHICH POT WILL AUSTRALIA BE IN?

Because we’re one of the lower-ranked sides at the tournament, we’ll be in pot 4. Don’t worry, pot 4 is like the back of the school bus: cool kids only.

WHAT POTS WILL THE QUALIFIED COUNTRIES BE IN?

COUNTRY HOW THEY QUALIFIED OCTOBER FIFA RANKING POT Russia Hosts 65 1 Brazil CONMEBOL winner 2 1 Iran AFC third round group A winner 34 3 Japan AFC third round group B winner 44 4 Mexico CONCACAF winner 16 2 Belgium UEFA group H winner 5 1 South Korea AFC third round group A runner-up 62 4 Saudi Arabia AFL third round group B runner-up 63 4 Germany Group C winner 1 1 England Group F winner 12 2 Spain Group G winner 8 2 Nigeria CAF group B winner 41 4 Costa Rica CONCACAF runner-up 22 3 Poland Group E winner 6 1 Egypt CAF group E winner 30 3 Iceland Group I winner 21 3 Serbia Group D winner 21 3 Portugal Group B winner 3 1 France Group A winner 7 1 Uruguay CONMEBOL runner-up 17 2 Argentina Third place, CONMEBOL 4 1 Colombia Fourth place, CONMEBOL 13 2 Panama Third place, CONCACAF 49 4 Senegal CAF Group D winner 32 3 Morocco CAF Group C winner 48 4 Tunisia CAF Group A winner 28 3 Switzerland Group B runner-up, won two-leg play-off against North Ireland 11 2 Croatia Group I runner-up, won two-leg play-off against Greece 18 2 Sweden Group A runner-up, won two-leg play-off against Italy 25 3 Denmark Group E runner-up, won two-leg play-off against Ireland 19 Australia Destiny 43 4 Peru Beat New Zealand in Oceania Zone - South American Zone intercontinental play-off 10 2

HAVE ANY BIG-NAME COUNTRIES MISSED OUT?

Italy? Gone. Chile? On holidays already. Netherlands? Won’t be there! The United States? Yeah, nah, not going.

It’s been a manic finish to the qualifying process but, if you’re looking to expand your support during the World Cup, look no further than Panama, who are in their first World Cup finals.

Also, it’s possibly Van Halen’s greatest song. Panama!

WHERE IS THE DRAW BEING HELD?

If fortified historic monuments are your thing then you are in luck. Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin will only have to pad downstairs in his slippers for the 2018 World Cup group stage draw because it’s being held at the State Kremlin Palace inside the Moscow Kremlin – the same complex as his residence.

It won’t be a small affair either: the venue is typically used for ballet and opera with a capacity around the 6,000 mark.

IS IT STREAMED?

If it isn’t streamed, does it really happen? Well, yes, but you’re in luck regardless: FIFA.com will handle all the live streaming.

SENSATIONAL. CAN I STILL BUY TICKETS TO THE WORLD CUP?

Gee whiz, you’ll want to be fast. As of the end of the Socceroos game, 622,117 tickets have been allocated from 3.5 million applications, with 57 per cent of them going to our good friends in Russia. You can snag a maximum four tickets per game for up to seven games. Get them here.