Italy risk a very tough group when the draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers is made today in Russia.
The draw starts in St Petersburg at 16.00 UK time (15.00 GMT) involving 141 nations.
Russia have already qualified as hosts, but World Cup holders Germany must still go through the process.
The nine top seeds in the European draw are Germany, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain and Croatia.
In a rare turnaround, Italy are only in Pot 2 and therefore risk an extremely tough group.
Italy risk a very tough group when the draw for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers is made today in Russia.
The draw starts in St Petersburg at 16.00 UK time (15.00 GMT) involving 141 nations.
Russia have already qualified as hosts, but World Cup holders Germany must still go through the process.
The nine top seeds in the European draw are Germany, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain and Croatia.
In a rare turnaround, Italy are only in Pot 2 and therefore risk an extremely tough group.
The 52 European sides will be split into seven groups of six teams and two groups of five.
UEFA have requested Italy, England, France, Germany, Spain and Holland are placed in a group of six teams in order to maximise television income.
Winners of each group will qualify for the World Cup, while the eight best runners-up go into a play-off in November 2017.
Pot 1: Germany, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Romania, England, Wales, Spain, Croatia
Pot 2: Slovakia, Austria, ITALY, Switzerland, Czech Republic, France, Iceland, Denmark, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Pot 3: Ukraine, Scotland, Poland, Hungary, Sweden, Albania, Northern Ireland, Serbia, Greece
Pot 4: Turkey, Slovenia, Israel, Ireland, Norway, Bulgaria, Faroe Islands, Montenegro, Estonia
Pot 5: Cyprus, Latvia, Armenia, Finland, Belarus, Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Moldova
Pot 6: Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Georgia, Malta, San Marino, Andorra