On Wednesday, FIFA announced the seven seeded teams – based on FIFA world ranking – to join hosts South Africa in the main pot, and the make-up of each of the other pots from which eight groups of four teams will be randomly drawn as an estimated worldwide audience of 200 million in 200 nations waits with baited breath.
As seeds, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England and will be kept apart during the group stage, with one team drawn from each of the remaining three pots to complete their pools.
The only restrictions imposed of the draw are that no more than two Europeans teams and no more than one nation from any other confederation can be drawn into the same group.
New Zealand was placed in pot B, alongside teams from Asia and Concacaf (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) – ruling out any possibility of a fans-choice match-up with Australia – with pot C comprised of the non-seeded African and South American nations and the remaining eight European qualifiers filling pot D.
All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner and NZF Chairman Frank van Hattum were happy to get a little more clarity around the types of opposition (European, African or South American) the All Whites would face next June, but Turner says he and coach Ricki Herbert aren’t fazed by their pot or potential match-ups.
“There’s no real surprises in the draw,” said Brian Turner, “in that there’s always some big names that miss being seeded and this time it’s France and Portugal, but the tournament is such that there are genuine contenders to win the World Cup in each of the pots.”
“Whatever happens, we’re going to get three very tough teams, we could even draw three former World Cup winners, but we won’t be taking a backward step against anyone.
“The exciting thing is the All Whites will be at the world’s biggest sporting event with potential match-ups that will really excite all New Zealand sports fans.”
Co-hosted by Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron, the glitzy event will boast football legends Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Eusebio, Luis Figo, Roger Milla, David Beckham, and Ruud Gullit among the guests as well as Ethiopian distance-runner Haile Gebrselassie, arch-bishop Desmond Tutu and former South African leader FW de Klerk.
The action continues immediately after the draw as teams clamber to book friendlies in the lead up to June’s main event.
The draw will be shown live of Sky Sports 2, TV One and streamed live on www.tvnz.co.nz .
2010 FIFA World Cup Draw – Pots
Pot A(Seeded teams)
South Africa (hosts)
Brazil
Spain
Netherlands
Italy
Germany
Argentina
England
Pot B (Asia, Oceania, Concacaf)
Australia
Japan
Korea DPR
Korea Republic
Honduras
Mexico
USA
New Zealand
Pot C (Africa, South America)
Algeria
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
Ghana
Nigeria
Chile
Paraguay
Uruguay
Pot D (Europe)
Denmark
France
Greece
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Final Draw
December 5, 6am (NZT)
Cape Town International Conference Centre
Live on Sky Sport 2, TV One and www.tvnz.co.nz
Courtesy of NZF Media