Fifa World Cup 2014 groups

Brazil, the hosts, in Group A and Spain, the title holders, in Group B.

Zinedine Zidane, right, hands a ball that he had drawn from a pot to Jerome Valcke, the Fifa secretary general, during the draw for the 2014 World Cup at the Costa do Sauipe resort in Sao Joao da MataShow more

Group A

Brazil (Hosts)

Croatia

Mexico

Cameroon

Croatia will have the honour of kicking off the tournament when they face the hosts Brazil in the opening game on June 12 in Sao Paulo. Brazil will be strong favourites to win the group, with the other three sides all quietly confident they will have what it takes to progress through as runners-up.

Group B

Spain (Holders)

Netherlands

Chile

Australia

The opening game of the group will be one of the highlights of the stage as holders Spain meet the Netherlands in a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final. The in-form European nations, who won their qualifying groups, will both expect to go through, with Chile and Australia the underdogs.

Group C

Colombia

Greece

Ivory Coast

Japan

A relatively open group that will have all the participants upbeat about their prospects. Colombia, the top seeds, will look to striker Radamel Falcao to score the goals that put them through. Ivory Coast, after tough draws in 2006 and 2010, will be delighted to have a genuine chance at progressing.

Group D

Uruguay

Costa Rica

England

Italy

One of the hardest groups to predict. Italy, the 2006 champions, will expect to qualify, but will know a Uruguay side with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani in attack have the potential to be formidable. England have only lost one group game since 1986, but face a tough task to reach the last 16 this time.

Group E

Switzerland

Ecuador

France

Honduras

Having come back from the brink in the qualifying play-offs to reach the finals, Didier Deschamps’s France will be thrilled with a draw that has seen them paired with arguably the weakest of the top seeds, Switzerland. Both Honduras and Ecuador will also believe they have a great chance to progress.

Group F

Argentina

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Iran

Nigeria

Winning a World Cup with Argentina is the only thing essentially missing from Lionel Messi’s to-do list, and the South Americans will expect to go through to the second round with minimum worry, though Nigeria, who won the African Cup of Nations this year, should not be underrated.

Group G

Germany

Portugal

Ghana

United States

Ghana, inspired by Al Ain’s Asamoah Gyan, were the best of the African nations in South Africa three years ago as they reached the quarter-finals, but they will be hard-pressed to repeat that this time around after being drawn with Germany and Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo playing for the latter.

Group H

Belgium

Algeria

Russia

South Korea

Another relatively open group. Belgium have a highly regarded side as they make their first appearance at a finals since 2002, but Fabio Capello’s Russia and South Korea will both be a threat. Algeria will look to show more of the steel that saw them hold England to a goalless draw in 2010.