World Cup Qualifying Draw Today

Saturday, 30th July 2011 at 09:06am

All the Fifa nations hoping to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will know the extent of the task that awaits them after the qualifying groups are drawn at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro later today (July 30).

31 places are up for grabs at the 2014 showcase, with Brazil already assured of a place as host nation.

Europe, as usual, will have the highest number of participants at the 2014 World Cup with 13 places up for grabs.

The 53 European nations will be divided into eight groups of six teams and one of five, with the top nine teams qualifying automatically for Brazil and the eight best second placed teams having to fight for four places via a two-legged play-off system.

Defending champions Spain and 2010 runners up Holland are among the nine top seeded teams and they are joined in pot one by England, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Norway and Greece.

The presence of the likes of France, Sweden, Serbia, Russia and Turkey in pot two, the Czech Republic and Belgium in pot three and even Poland in pot four should ensure some eagerly anticipated group matches.

The draws for the African, Oceania, Asian and North, Central and Caribbean regions will also be made later today.

There will be no draw for the South American region as the nine teams all compete in the same group, playing each side home and away.

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