GROUP A
Netherlands, Senegal,
Ecuador, Qatar
Players to watch: Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal); Moises Caicedo, Enner Valencia (Ecuador); Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
Negri Sembilan coach K. Devan's picks:
"The Netherlands should become group champions. They are in good form and are packed with world-class players and a good coach in Louis van Gaal.
"Senegal are another team with good individual players playing with top European teams. They have the experience and quality to make it past the group stage.
"I think Brazil will be the World Cup champions this time. They have talented individuals who are now playing well as a team."
GROUP B
England, United States,
Wales, Iran
Players to watch: Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham (England); Christian Pulisic, Giovanni Reyna (US); Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey (Wales); Mehdi Taremi, Sardar Azmoun (Iran)
Former national coach K. Rajagobal's picks:
"England and Wales seem to be favourites in this group but you cannot rule out the United States. So, my picks are England and the US to make it past the group stage.
"Brazil are my favourite team in the World Cup and they look to be formidable under Tite. He has assembled a team that fit his system.
"I think the final will see Brazil taking on France or Argentina. I hope Brazil will win the final."
GROUP C
Argentina, Mexico,
Poland, Saudi Arabia,
Players to watch: Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez (Argentina); Robert Lewandowski, Arkadiusz Milik (Poland); Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano, Raul Jimenez (Mexico); Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdulelah Al-Amri (Saudi Arabia)
Kuching City coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim's picks:
"My pick is Argentina to be the group winners. They have Messi and other good players to support him. They look very strong in this World Cup.
"The second team to advance from the group should be Mexico, but they will have a tough fight from Poland but I see Mexico having the edge this time.
"My favourite team Brazil will be in the final. I see them as the favourites to win the World Cup as they have started to play as a team including Neymar."
GROUP D
France, Denmark,
Australia, Tunisia
Players to watch: Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema (France); Christian Eriksen, Andreas Christensen (Denmark); Wahbi Khazri, Hannibal Mejbri (Tunisia); Aaron Mooy, Martin Boyle (Australia)
Sabah coach Ong Kim Swee's picks:
"France are the defending champions and although they have a few injured players, they still have others with quality who can fill in for the missing players. So I feel they will be the group winners.
"I do think Tunisia will be the runners-up and advance to the second round as well. Many people would write them off but they have the experience of playing in the World Cup, and as underdogs, they could sneak into the knockout stage.
"The final will be between the powerhouses of Europe and South America. I see Argentina with Messi in good form. Brazil also have a good squad similar to France's and Germany's, but I feel that Argentina will win."
GROUP E
Spain, Germany,
Japan, Costa Rica
Players to watch: Pedri, Alvaro Morata (Spain); Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich (Germany); Daichi Kamada, Kaoru Mitoma (Japan); Brandon Aguilera, Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
Selangor coach Tan Cheng Hoe's picks:
"Based on the quality of the players, Spain and Germany are the favourites to advance to the second round. Japan are the strongest side from Asia, but like Costa Rica, they will have a tough campaign to make it to the knockout round.
"Spain have several young players but they are still quality players, and it's the same with Germany. Spain had a good run in the UEFA Nations League.
"My favourite team are Brazil, and I think they have assembled a strong squad capable of winning the World Cup. They seem to have learnt from their mistakes in the last two World Cups."
GROUP F
Belgium, Croatia,
Canada, Morocco
Players to watch: Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku (Belgium); Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic (Croatia); Alphonso Davies, Cyle Larin (Canada); Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech (Morocco)
Kuala Lumpur coach Bojan Hodak's picks:
"Croatia and Belgium are the favourites from this group. This is a tough group but these two teams have the advantage in terms of players' experience.
"Morocco can be the party poopers because they also have quality players. Canada will certainly be eliminated due to lack of quality.
"I think France are the favourites to win the World Cup. They have a good group of players, but Brazil and Argentina are contenders for the World Cup too."
GROUP G
Brazil, Switzerland,
Serbia, Cameroon
Players to watch: Vinicius Jr, Neymar (Brazil); Dusan Tadic, Dusan Vlahovic (Serbia), Breel Embolo, Granit Xhaka (Switzerland); Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Andre Onana (Cameroon).
Former national coach B. Satiananthan's picks:
"Brazil will surely make it to the knockout round from this group. The team look very harmonious, and after a long time they have good goalkeepers. They look very complete in all departments this time.
"I think Switzerland will finish runners-up in the group. Serbia and Cameroon seem to be lacking compared to the two other teams.
"France look like the favourites to defend the World Cup. They have a very solid squad and the experience to excel on this stage. Probably Brazil or Argentina will be in the final, but France will take the trophy."
GROUP H
Portugal, Uruguay,
South Korea, Ghana
Players to watch: Joao Cancelo, Bruno Fernandes (Portugal); Federico Valverde, Darwin Nunez (Uruguay); Son Heung Min, Kim Min Jae (South Korea); Thomas Partey, Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
Terengganu coach Nafuzi Zain's picks:
"I think Portugal and Uruguay will finish top two in the group to advance to the knockout stage. They have more world-class players compared to South Korea and Ghana.
"The quality of players does make a difference at the highest level as individual brilliance can create upsets.
"I think Spain have a good chance with Brazil to enter the final on paper. Spain have a good squad and a good run in the UEFA Nations Cup. They could clinch the World Cup."