One month to go until Russia 2018 Final Draw

Final Draw will take place at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow

32 qualified teams will learn group pairings for next summer's showpiece

There is now only one month to go until the competing teams at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ discover who they will face during the group stage of the tournament. On 1 December, the Final Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place at the State Kremlin Palace in the heart of the country's capital. The tagline of the event is "Where the stars align", which refers not only to the glow of the best footballing nations in the world but also perfectly alludes to the idea of destiny as the road to the coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy is unveiled.

One of the eight draw assistants who will hold the fate of the 32 qualified teams in their hands is FIFA World Cup ambassador and Russian football legend Nikita Simonyan. "The head coaches and supporters everywhere will be eagerly waiting to see which groups their teams land in. I'd like to wish everyone good luck," said Simonyan when asked to comment on his role as Final Draw assistant. "The choice of the State Kremlin Palace as the location says a lot about the prestige of the World Cup and Russia's excitement to welcome teams and fans from all over the world."

"The Final Draw slogan perfectly reflects the meaning of this historic moment," added the Chairman of the Russia 2018 Local Organising Committee, Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko. "The Final Draw is an essential, key moment in the preparations for a FIFA World Cup. Fans from all over the world cannot wait for the event that will dictate their trip to Russia, while for teams it will lay out the path to the FIFA World Cup final at the Luzhniki Stadium."

The Final Draw ceremony, which will be transmitted live around the world, is being produced by Channel One and will be directed by Felix Mikhailov, who has promised another colourful show representing the local culture and welcoming the other 31 nations that will join the Russian hosts. Mikhailov was also the creative mind behind the Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup in Saint Petersburg and the Official Draw for the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017 in Kazan.

The biggest milestone ahead of the FIFA World Cup could not have found a more historic and unique venue in the host country. Built in 1961 on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin, this concert hall is one of the best places in Russia to hold theatrical productions and concerts. Over the years, the State Kremlin Palace has welcomed global stars such as Luciano Pavarotti, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Charles Aznavour, Whitney Houston, Elton John and Sting. It is fitting therefore that it is here on the evening of 1 December that the whole world will watch the stars of football align.