Found myself watching the World Cup draw tonight and their were a few 'constraints' - occasions when teams could not be put into the group they were chosen for because they were from the same Confederation - two African teams, for example.
So how come England can be in the same group as Scotland or Wales (depending on play-offs also involving Ukraine.) Are England Scotland and Wales not in the same Confederation?
"The teams are in one bowl, and the groups in another. Starting from the top pot and working down, each team is drawn, and then the group they're to play in.
Teams from the same continent are mostly kept apart, except for European countries, where a maximum of two can be in a group."
It is because there are more teams from Europe (13) who have qualified, therefore there could be at least 2 in any group. Had England's group drawn another European side before Pot 4 was drawn, Wales, Scotland and Ukraine would have had to go in another group.