The World Cup starts in Russia tomorrow with the opening match between the host nation and Saudi Arabia.

Albion are represented by goalkeeper Mathew Ryan (Australia), new defender Leon Balogun (Nigeria) and winger Jose Izquierdo (Colombia).

When do they play, how much game time will they get and how much of Albion's pre-season programme are they likely to miss?

Andy Naylor guides you through the Seagulls' World Cup.

When will the Albion trio make their first appearances?

No.1 Ryan is first up.

He faces a tough start with Australia against fancied France in the opening game of Group C at the Kazan Area in Kazan on Saturday (11am live on BBC One).

Later the same day (8pm live on ITV), Balogun's Nigeria tackle 1998 semi-finalists Croatia in Group D at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad.

Izquierdo does not enter the fray with Colombia until Tuesday.

The South Americans take on Japan in Group H at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk (1pm live on BBC One).

Gareth Southgate's England start kick-off against Tunisia the night before (7pm).

Will it be their World Cup debuts?

Not for Ryan.

He played in each of the Socceroos' group fixtures in Brazil four years ago.

It was a painful experience. Ryan conceded three goals against Chile, Holland and Spain.

Balogun missed out in Brazil through injury.

Izquierdo only made his debut for Colombia a year ago.

When are the Albion threesome back in action?

The second game for Ryan's Australia is against Denmark on Thursday June 21 at the Samara Arena in Samara (1pm live on ITV).

He will be up against former Albion midfield target Thomas Delaney, who recently swapped Werder Bremen for Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund.

The following afternoon, Friday June 22, Balogun (below right) and Nigeria meet Iceland (4pm live on BBC One).

The Argus: Wonder if Roy Hodgson will be watching the clash at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd. Iceland, of course, humbled Hodgson's England in the 2016 Euros.

England's second match against Panama on Sunday June 24 (1pm) is followed in the evening by Izquierdo's Colombia against Poland at the Kazan Arena (7pm live on ITV).

When do the group games finish?

No staggered kick-off times. The group finales are played simultaneously.

Ryan's Aussies conclude against Peru on Tuesday June 26 (3pm live on ITV 4) at the Fischt Stadium, Sochi, while France are playing Denmark.

Balogun confronts Lionel Messi's Argentina later the same day at the Saint Petersburg Stadium (7pm live on BBC One). Iceland play Croatia in the other game.

Izquierdo's Colombia provide an appetiser on Thursday June 28 to England's showdown with Belgium.

The South Americans take on Senegal at the Samara Arena in Samara (3pm live on BBC One).

The other closing match in Colombia's group is Japan v Poland. England finish their group G campaign against Belgium at 7pm.

How much game time for the Albion players?

Ryan is well-established as Australia's first choice, despite competition from Brad Jones (Feyenoord) and Danny Vukovic (Genk) and a change of coach (Dutchman Bert van Marwijk).

Barring accidents he will be in goal against France, Denmark and Peru.

Balogun also features regularly in Nigeria's back four or five. He started all three of their warm-up friendlies against Congo, England and the Czech Republic.

Izquierdo's role, on the other hand, is more likely to be as an impact substitute.

He has been on the bench to begin with for all three of their matches so far this year against France, Australia and Egypt.

What are Australia's chances of progress past the group stage?

History is against Ryan and the Aussies, who have already played 22 matches in qualifying They have only gone beyond the group stage once in four previous attempts, when they reached the last 16 in 2006.

Ryan will be aiming to add to a solitary clean sheet for Australia in 13 World Cup matches, against Chile back in 1974.

France under their 1998 midfield general Didier Deschamps are hot favourites to top the group.

Ryan will be hoping for better against Denmark than Albion team-mate Shane Duffy, whose World Cup dream was wrecked in the play-offs by Christian Eriksen.

Peru are no pushovers either. They sneaked past Chile on goal difference in the South American pool before becoming the last country to qualify for the finals by beating New Zealand in a play-off.

What about Nigeria?

There is plenty of Premier League interest in the squad assembled by German coach Gernot Rohr.

Balogun's team-mates include Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Super Eagles came through Africa's supposed group of death in style with a game to spare, thrashing Cameroon 4-0 en route.

They have reached the last 16 three times in five attempts but have a horribly tough group. In qualifying, Iceland finished above Croatia who eased past Greece in the play-offs.

Results against those two will be key before the final game against Argentina.

It will be Nigeria's fifth clash with the South American giants in the group stages - and they have lost the previous four.

Colombia's prospects?

Izquierdo (below) has the best chance of progressing into the knockout stages.

The Argus: Colombia's experienced Argentinian coach Jose Pekerman steered his home nation to the last eight in 2006 before defeat by the Germans (on penalties of course).

They reached the same stage in Brazil four years ago and, although labouring in qualifying, have the talented James Rodriguez to lead their challenge.

The group is not the strongest either, with Senegal and Japan among the outsiders. The game against Poland should decide who finishes top.

When will Albion's World Cup players be available for pre-season?

With time for rest and recovery afterwards, Ryan, Balogun and Izquierdo will all probably miss the training camp in Austria and opening friendly against St Gallen in Switzerland.

Izquierdo's Colombia will be England's last 16 opponents on July 2 or 3 if one of them win their group and the other finish runners-up.

Quarter-finals appearances for any of the trio are likely to delay their build-up with Albion until some time after the first friendly in England at AFC Wimbledon on July 21.