2013 FIFA Confederations Cup: Hosts Brazil given tough draw!

The draw for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup was held today at the Anhembi Convention Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Presented by FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, the draw ceremony revealed who will face who in the group phase of the Festival of Champions, which takes place from June 15-30, 2013.Hosts Brazil, are the defending champions and were head of Group A into which Japan (Asian champions), Mexico (CONCACAF champions) and Italy (Euro 2012 runners-up) have been drawn; while Group B had 2010 FIFA World Cup winners Spain as group head and they face Uruguay (Copa America champions), Tahiti (Oceania champions) and the African champions.Brazil surely has the tougher group if one looks at the strengths of Japan, Mexico and Italy with all sides a potential threat to the Selecao, while Spain will surely worry about Uruguay, but newcomers Tahiti look to be lightweight and one will have to see if the African giants or a surprise like last year in Zambia lift the African Cup of Nations.

Confederations Cup host Brazil will open next year’s tournament with a game against Japan on June 15 in the Capital city Brasilia, and Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana Stadium will host the final.

“We have the mission to win the Confederations Cup on the field, but we also have the obligation to be victorious off the field,” said Brazil President Dilma Rousseff.

“We are preparing to organize an extraordinary Confederations Cup. We will show the world in 2013 that Brazil has all the conditions to host the 2014 World Cup, and that it will be the best organised and the most festive of all time.”

The public ticket sale will start on Monday, December 3 at 12:00 CET (09:00 Brasilia Time) on FIFA.com.