Cape Town, South Africa, December 5, 2009 – It only happens every four years, and finally in a star-studded ceremony at the Cape Town International Conventional Centre, the group stages of the World Cup were decided, kicking off Africa's first World Cup.

Five time winners Brazil and Portugal were sent on a World Cup collision course in Group G and were joined by top African side Ivory Coast and unknown quantities North Korea in what will inevitably be dubbed the 'Group of Death'.

Brazil have won the World Cup a record six times and Portugal finished fourth behind Italy, France and Germany three years ago.

The other favorites for the tournament Spain were given an easy ride through to the second round.

It was also bad news for the host nation in Group A as South Africa drew Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup and then two former world champions - France and Uruguay.

Group B has Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria and Greece, with England, United States, Algeria and Slovenia making up Group C.

Germany have it a bit tougher with Australia, Serbia and Ghana standing in their way in Group D.

The Netherlands have Japan, Cameroon and Denmark in Group E.

Defending champions Italy, who are chasing their fifth World Cup triumph, should be confident of reaching the next stage after drawing New Zealand, Paraguay and Slovakia in Group F.

In the final Group H, European champions Spain, who have never won the World Cup, should easily make it through to the knockout phase, facing lower ranked Switzerland, Honduras and Chile and avoiding the tough teams in the 32-team draw.

Tough group

Ivory Coast's hopes of an easier World Cup draw second time round were dashed when they were pulled to face giants Brazil and Portugal in the opening rounds. 

Captain and star striker Didier Drogba had hoped for weaker opponents after the west African 'Elephants' were grouped with Argentina and Netherlands in Germany three years ago and suffered narrow losses before beating Serbia.

The picking of South Africa's opponent for the opening match was one of the most anticipated moments of the World Cup draw ceremony as the hosts gained an automatic seeding for the tournament and were seen as an easy match.

South Africa are ranked 86th in the world and will find a tough opponent in Mexico, the world's 15th-ranked team, on June 11 at Soccer City, despite the strong home support they will no doubt receive.

France have never lost against South Africa and beat them in the opening game of the 1998 World Cup, which they hosted and won.

After qualifying via the back door of the playoffs thanks to Thierry Henry's handball against Ireland, France have an easy ride to the second round.

"We will be proud to face the host nation,'' said France coach Raymond Domenech.

"We wanted this to fully appreciate the atmosphere of African football.''

England coach Fabio Capello had reason to be happy as his men drew a relatively lightweight trio of the United States, Algeria and Slovenia.

"I think it is one of the most balanced groups.

"Algeria have beaten Egypt so they are a dangerous side. I remember there have been groups that looked easy but then became really complicated," he told Sky Italia.

The draw was made in front of a huge global TV audience, estimated at 350 million people worldwide.
Star-studded
Thousands of fans began the World Cup party early on the streets of Cape Town.

At the main party venue, on the city's popular Long Street, many football fans gathered together to watch the draw on a giant television screen.

The ceremony was a glittering affair, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, David Beckham and Charlize Theron adding glamour to around 3,000 people who were waiting in keen anticipation of their route to the finals.

Former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, who was involved with South Africa's World Cup bid, kicked off the ceremony by saying South Africa was "privileged and humbled" to be staging football's greatest event.

The country's first black president played a pivotal role in securing the inaugural World Cup on African soil and he said sport was a powerful weapon in uniting nations.

"Sport has the power to inspire and unite people," said Mandela.

"In Africa, soccer enjoys great popularity and has a particular place in the hearts of people. Which is why it is so important that the FIFA World Cup will, for the first time ever, be hosted on the African continent in 2010," he added.

"We must strive for excellence in our hosting of the World Cup, while at the same time, ensuring that we are going to leave a lasting benefit to all our people."

Full groups for the 2010 World Cup

Group A South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

Group B Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece

Group C England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia

Group D Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia

Group E Holland, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark

Group F Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia

Group G Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, Portugal

Group H Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland

Provisional match schedule

GROUP A

Match 1, June 11 1500: South Africa v Mexico (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 2, June 11 1930: Uruguay v France (Cape Town)

Match 17, June 16 1930: South Africa v Uruguay (Pretoria)

Match 18, June 17 1230: France v Mexico (Polokwane)

Match 33, June 22 1500: Mexico v Uruguay (Rustenburg)

Match 34, June 22 1500: France v South Africa (Bloemfontein)

GROUP B

Match 3, June 12 1230: Argentina v Nigeria (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 4, June 12 1500: South Korea v Greece (Port Elizabeth)

Match 19, June 17 1500: Greece v Nigeria (Bloemfontein)

Match 20, June 17 1930: Argentina v South Korea (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 35, June 22 1930: Nigeria v South Korea (Durban)

Match 36, June 22 1930: Greece v Argentina (Polokwane)

GROUP C

Match 5, June 12 1930: England v USA (Rustenburg)

Match 6, June 13 1230: Algeria v Slovenia (Polokwane)

Match 22, June 18 1500: Slovenia v USA (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 23, June 18 1930: England v Algeria (Cape Town)

Match 37, June 23 1500: Slovenia v England (Port Elizabeth)

Match 38, June 23 1500: USA v Algeria (Pretoria)

GROUP D

Match 7, June 13 1500: Germany v Australia (Durban)

Match 8, June 13 1930: Serbia v Ghana (Pretoria)

Match 21, June 18 1230: Germany v Serbia (Port Elizabeth)

Match 24, June 19 1230: Ghana v Australia (Rustenburg)

Match 39, June 23 1930: Ghana v Germany (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 40, June 23 1930: Australia v Serbia (Nelspruit)

GROUP E

Match 9, June 14 1230: Holland v Denmark (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 10, June 14 1500: Japan v Cameroon (Bloemfontein)

Match 25, June 19 1500: Holland v Japan (Durban)

Match 26, June 19 1930: Cameroon v Denmark (Pretoria)

Match 43, June 24 1930: Denmark v Japan (Rustenburg)

Match 44, June 24 1930: Cameroon v Holland (Cape Town)

GROUP F

Match 11, June 14 1930: Italy v Paraguay (Cape Town)

Match 12, June 15 1230: New Zealand v Slovakia (Rustenburg)

Match 27, June 20 1230: Slovakia v Paraguay (Bloemfontein)

Match 28, June 20 1500: Italy v New Zealand (Nelspruit)

Match 41, June 24 1500: Slovakia v Italy (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 42, June 24 1500: Paraguay v New Zealand (Polokwane)

GROUP G

Match 13, June 15 1500: Ivory Coast v Portugal (Port Elizabeth)

Match 14, June 15 1930: Brazil v North Korea (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 29, June 20 1930: Brazil v Ivory Coast (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 30, June 21 1230: Portugal v North Korea (Cape Town)

Match 45, June 25 1500: Portugal v Brazil (Durban)

Match 46, June 25 1500: North Korea v Ivory Coast (Nelspruit)

GROUP H

Match 15, June 16 1230: Honduras v Chile (Nelspruit)

Match 16, June 16 1500: Spain v Switzerland (Durban)

Match 31, June 21 1500: Chile v Switzerland (Port Elizabeth)

Match 32, June 21 1930: Spain v Honduras (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 47, June 25 1930: Chile v Spain (Pretoria)

Match 48, June 25 1930: Switzerland v Honduras (Bloemfontein)

LAST 16

Match 49, June 26 1500: Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B (Port Elizabeth)

Match 50, June 26 1930: Winner Group C v Runner-up Group D (Rustenburg)

Match 51, June 27 1500: Winner Group D v Runner-up Group C (Bloemfontein)

Match 52, June 27 1930: Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 53, June 28 1500: Winner Group E v Runner-up Group F (Durban)

Match 54, June 28 1930: Winner Group G v Runner-up Group H (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Match 55, June 29 1500: Winner Group F v Runner-up Group E (Pretoria)

Match 56, June 29 1930: Winner Group H v Runner-up Group G (Cape Town)

QUARTER-FINALS

Match 57, July 2 1500: Winner of Match 53 v Winner of Match 54 (Port Elizabeth)

Match 58, July 2 1930: Winner of Match 49 v Winner of Match 50 (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Match 59, July 3 1500: Winner of Match 52 v Winner of Match 51 (Cape Town)

Match 60, July 3 1930: Winner of Match 55 v Winner of Winner of Match 56 (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

SEMI-FINALS

Match 61, July 6 1930: Winner Match 58 v Winner Match 57 (Cape Town)

Match 62, July 7 1930: Winner Match 59 v Winner Match 60 (Durban)

THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF

Match 63, July 10 1930: Loser Match 61 v Loser Match 62 (Port Elizabeth)

FINAL

Match 64, July 11 1930: Winner Match 61 v Winner Match 62 (Soccer City, Johannesburg)

Source: Agencies

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