Cape Town, December 05: The United States will play England, Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of next year’s World Cup in what appears to be a relatively easy group.
The US opens against England in Rustenburg on June 12, their first World Cup matchup since the Americans’ 1-0 upset victory at the 1950 tournament in Brazil.
The United States then plays Slovenia at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park on June 18 and completes the first round on June 23 with its first-ever match against Algeria in Pretoria.
Mexico was drawn Friday to meet South Africa in the tournament opener on June 11 in Johannesburg. El Tri then plays France and Uruguay.
Meanwhile, Group G includes the ‘Group of Death’ scenario where Brazil have been paired with Ivory Coast, Portugal and North Korea.
Hosts South Africa had a tough draw in Group A along with Mexico, Uruguay and France.
Holders Italy will have to make their way past Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia as they attempt to retain the trophy they won in Germany in 2006.
The opening game of the tournament will see South Africa play Mexico in Johannesburg on 11 June.
South African actress Charlize Theron, England international David Beckham, Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie, South African cricket pioneer Makhaya Ntini, Springbok rugby player John Smit, and Bafana defender Matthew Booth helped conduct the draw at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in front of a crowd of luminaries including Franz Beckenbauer, Eusebio, and Desmond Tutu.
Geographical criteria meant that no two teams from the same confederation could be drawn in the same group, with the exception of European teams where a maximum of two were permitted.
All eight groups in full:
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland
—-Agencies