Hosts Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the Confederations Cup on June 15 next year in Brasilia following yesterday’s draw in Sao Paulo.
After their curtain-raiser against the Asian champions Brazil will face CONCACAF champions Mexico and then Italy, Euro 2012 runners-up, in their pool matches.
World champions Spain are in Group B along with Uruguay, Oceania champions Tahiti and whoever wins the Africa Cup of Nations in February.
The intercontinental showpiece, a dry run for the 2014 World Cup which Brazil will also host for the first time since 1950, runs to June 30, when Rio de Janeiro will host the final at the Maracana stadium.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter lauded Brazil for the giant country’s efforts on readying its infrastructure for both events with six venues staging the Confederations Cup and 12 the World Cup.
Although FIFA has at times been critical of the country’s efforts, in recent months the game’s world body has been more conciliatory and Blatter, noting the country last staged a World Cup in 1950, struck a positive tone.
“A lot has changed in this country since 1950,” said Blatter, noting that “it is a question of trust and confidence” to hand organisation of a major event to a country.
“Now, Brazil has developed – not only in their culture but also in their economy. We are very happy to be in a country which is the sixth economy in the world.”
The eight-nation Confederations Cup brings together four former world champions in reigning top-ranked side Spain, five-times winners the Brazilians themselves, four-times champions Italy and Uruguay, inaugural world champions in 1930 and then 1950, when they beat their hosts in Rio.
Whereas the hosts, under re-appointed Luiz Felipe Scolari, their 2002 World Cup winning coach, see the event as a dress rehearsal for 2014, Blatter said ahead of the draw the meeting of continental champions is an important date in its own right.
“This is really a rendezvous of world champions.
“High quality is here – we have 12 World Cup stars,” said Blatter, in reference to the roll of honour in terms of world titles.
Asian champions Japan, CONCACAF champions Mexico, and Oceania surprise package Tahiti are also invited to the party for which 132,000 tickets have already been sold, the organisers reported yesterday.
The draw
Group A
Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Italy.
Group B
Spain, Uruguay, Tahiti, Africa Cup champions (TBA).