In photos: The World Cup 2014 groups
Host nation Brazil will kick off next year’s soccer World Cup against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12 following the draw held on Friday
GROUP A - In this Oct. 15, 2013 file photo, Brazil soccer team poses prior to the start their international friendly soccer match against Zambia. Background from left: Diego Cavalier, Paulinho, Ramires, Lucas, Anderson Dede, and David Luiz. Foreground from left: Neymar, Dani Alves, Alexandre Pato, Lucas Moura and Maxwell.Ng Han Guan/The Associated Press
GROUP A - In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, Croatia soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Iceland. Background from left: Josip Simunic, Mario Mandzukic, Vedran Corluka, Ivan Rakitic, Stipe Pletikosa and Ivan Perisic. Foreground from left: Darijo Srna, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Danijel Pranjic and Ivica Olic.Darko Bandic/The Associated Press
GROUP A - In this Oct. 15, 2013 file photo, Mexico's team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Costa Rica and Mexico. Background from left: Hugo Ayala, Guillermo Ochoa, Rafael Marquez, Jorge Torres, Oribe Peralta, Jesus Zavala. Foreground from left, Christian Gimenez, Carlos Pena, Miguel Layun, Javier Aquino and Javier Hernandez.Fernando Vergara/The Associated Press
GROUP A - In this Oct. 13, 2013 file photo, Cameroon soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer between Tunisia and Cameroon. Foreground from left: Tchounko Nounke, Kouamo Webo, Takang Enouh Eyong and Jean Makoun. Background from left: Allan Romeo Nyom, Bilong Song, Ndoubena Nkoulou, Fongang Chedjou, Job Mtip Joel and Samuel Etoo.Salah Habibi/The Associated Press
GROUP B - In this June 11, 2013 file photo, Spain soccer team poses prior to the start their international friendly soccer match against Ireland. Foreground from left, Pedro, Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Davis Villa, Xavi Hernadez, Jordi Alba. Background from left, Alvaro Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique, Victor Valdes.Kathy Willens/The Associated Press
GROUP B - In this June 7, 2013 file photo, Chile team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Paraguay and Chile. Background from left: goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, Arturo Vidal, Marcos Gonzalez, Jose Rojas and Eduardo Vargas. Foreground from left: Alexis Sanchez, Mauricio Isla, Marcelo Diaz, Gary Medel, Esteban Paredes, and Eugenio Mena.Cesar Olmedo/The Associated Press
GROUP B - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, Australia soccer team poses prior to the start their international soccer friendly match between France and Australia. Background from left: Rhys Williams, Robbie Kruse, Mitchell Langerak, James Holland, Mile Jedinak and Mark Bresciano. Foreground from left: David Carney, Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill, Matty McKay and Luke Wilkshire.Francois Mori/The Associated Press
GROUP B - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, Dutch soccer team poses prior the start the Group D World Cup qualifying soccer match between Netherlands and Hungary. Background from left: Jeffrey Bruma, Michel Vorm, Daryl Janmaat, Ron Vlaar, Kevin Strootman, and Rafael van der Vaart. Foreground from left: Daley Blind, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Jeremain Lens and Nigel de Jong.Peter Dejong/The Associated Press
GROUP C - In this June 11, 2013 file photo, Colombia soccer national team pose prior to a 2014 World Cup qualifying match against Peru. Background from left: Mario Yepes, David Ospina, Carlos Sanchez, Abel Aguilar and Luis Perea. Foreground from left: Teofilo Gutierrez, Macnelly Torres, Camilo Zuniga, Radamel Falcao Garcia, Juan Cuadrado and Pablo Armero.Ricardo Mazalan/The Associated Press
GROUP C - In this Nov. 16, 2013 file photo, Ivory Coast soccer team poses prior to the World Cup 2014 qualifying soccer match between Ivory Coast and Senegal. Background from left: Yaya Toure, Toure Kolo Abib, Souleman Bamba, Romaric N'Dri, and Salomon Kalou. Foreground from left: Gosso Jean-Jacques, Zokora Deguy, goalkeeper Barry Boubacar, Didier Drogba, Aurier Serge and Yao Kouassi Gervais.Abdeljalil Bounhar/The Associated Press
GROUP C - In this Oct. 15, 2013 file photo, Japan soccer team poses prior to the start their friendly soccer match against Belarus. Background from left: Yasuhito Endo, Maya Yoshida,Yasuyuki Konno, Yoichiro Kakitani, Eiji Kawashima and Keisuke Honda. Foreground from left: Makoto Hasebe, Atsuto Uchida, Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Okazaki and Shinji Kagawa.Sergei Grits/The Associated Press
GROUP C - In this Sept. 10, 2013 file photo, Greece national soccer team poses prior to the start of a World Cup Group G qualifying soccer match between Greece and Latvia. Foreground from left: Giorgos Samaras, Vassilis Torosidis, Dimitris Salpigidis, Giannis Maniatis and Sotiris Ninis. Background from left: Orestis Karnezis, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Kostas Mitroglou, Kostas Katsouranis, Dimitris Siovas and Giorgos Tzavelas.Petros Giannakouris/The Associated Press
GROUP D - In this Oct. 15, 2013 file photo, Uruguay soccer team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Uruguay and Argentina. Foreground from left: Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo, Maximiliano Pereira, Jorge Fucile and Cristian Rodriguez. Background from left: Edinson Cavani, Fernando Muslera, Christian Stuani, Diego Lugano, Luis Suarez and Diego Godin.Matilde Campodonico/The Associated Press
GROUP D - In this March, 26, 2013 file photo, Italy soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup Group B qualifying soccer match between Malta and Italy. Foreground from left, Antonio Noscerino, Claudio Marchisio, Andrea Pirlo, Alessandro Montolivo and Ignazio Abate. Background from left, Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio, Andrea Barzagli, Mario Balotelli, Leonardo Bonucci and Gianluigi Buffon.Antonio Calanni/The Associated Press
GROUP D - In this June 7, 2014 file photo, Costa Rica national soccer team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Costa Rica and Honduras. Background from left: Keilor Navas, Ariel Rodriguez, Celso Borges, Brian Ruiz, Christopher Meneses and Giancarlo Gonzalez. Foreground from left: Joel Campbell, Cristian Gamboa, Jairo Arrieta, Roy Miller and Cristian Bolanos.Moises Castillo/The Associated Press
GROUP D - In this Sept. 10, 2013 file photo, England national soccer team poses prior to the World Cup qualifier group H soccer match between Ukraine and England. Background from left: Kyle Walker, Rickie Lambert, Phil Jagielka, Joe Hart, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard. Foreground from left: Theo Walcott, James Milner, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole and Jack Wilshere.Efrem Lukatsky/The Associated Press
GROUP E - In This Nov. 15, 2013 file photo, Switzerland soccer team poses prior to the start their friendly soccer match against South Korea. Foreground from left: Gokhan Inler, Blerim Dzemaili, Tranquillo Barnetta, Steve Bergen and Granit Xhaka. Background from left: Diego Benaglio, Haris Seferovic, Michael Lang, Fabian Schar, Reto Ziegler and Pajtim Kasami.Lee Jin-man/The Associated Press
GROUP E - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, Ecuador national team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Ecuador and Uruguay. Foreground from left: Jefferson Montero, Juan Carlos Paredes, Antonio Valencia, Enner Valencia and Walter Ayovi. Background from left: Segundo Castillo, Frickson Erazo, Alexander Dominguez, Jorge Guagua, Cristhian Noboa, and Felipe Caicedo.Dolores Ochoa/The Associated Press
GROUP E - In this June 11, 2013 file photo, Honduras national soccer team poses prior to the start the 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Honduras and Jamaica. Background from left: Juan Montes, Victor Bernardez, Wilson Palacios, Emilio Izaguirre and Noel Valladares. Foreground from left: Oscar Garcia, Arnold Peralta, Roger Rojas, Luis Garrido, Roger Espinoza and Mario Martinez.Moises Castillo/The Associated Press
GROUP E - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, France soccer team poses poses prior to the start their international soccer friendly match between France and Australia. Background from left: Eric Abidal, Hugo Lloris, Loic Remy, Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Olivier Giroud. Foreground from left: Yohan Cabaye, Patrice Evra, Samir Nasri, Mathieu Debuchy and Franck Ribery.Christophe Ena/The Associated Press
GROUP F - In this Sept. 10, 2013 file photo, Argentina soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Argentina and Paraguay. Background from left: Jose Basanta, Sergio Romero, Fabricio Coloccini, Hugo Campagnaro and Fernando Gago. Foreground from left: Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta, Lucas Biglia and Rodrigo Palacio.Cesar Olmedo/The Associated Press
GROUP F - In this Nov. 16, 2013 file photo, Nigeria soccer team poses prior to start the World Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Ethiopia at U. J. Esuene Stadium, in Calabar, Nigeria. Background from left: Mikel John Obi, Omeruo Kenneth, Ideye Brown, Emenike Emmanuel, Godfrey Oboabona, and Ambrose Efe. Foreground from left: Victor Moses, Echieille Elderson, Enyeama Vincent, Onazi Ogenyi, and Amhed Musa.Sunday Alamba/The Associated Press
GROUP F - In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, Iran national team poses prior to the start the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifying soccer match between Lebanon and Iran. Foreground from left: Amirhossein Sadeghi, Hossein Mahini, Reza Ghoochannejhad Nournia, Ashkan Dejagah, Alireza Jahan Bakhsh and Masoud Shojaei. Background from left: Mehrdad Beitashour, Reza Haghighi, Jalal Hosseini, Mohammed Davari and Javad Nekonam.Bilal Hussein/The Associated Press
GROUP F - In this Oct. 11, 2013 file photo, Bosnia soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup Group G qualifying soccer match between Bosnia and Liechtenstein. Background from left: Asmir Begovic, Senad Lulic, Sead Salihovic, Vedad Ibisevic, Zvjezdan Misimovic and Edin Dzeko. Foreground from left: Haris Medunjanin, Ermin Bicakcic, Miralem Pjanic, Avdija Vrsajevic and Emir Spahic.Amel Emric/The Associated Press
GROUP G - In this Oct 11, 2013 file photo, Germany soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup Group C qualifying soccer match between Germany and Ireland. Background from left: Manuel Neuer, Per Mertesacker, Toni Kroos. Marcell Jansen, Sami Khedira and Jerome Boateng. Foreground from left: Philipp Lahm, Thomas Mueller, Andre Schuerrle, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil.Michael Probst/The Associated Press
GROUP G - In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, Ghana soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Egypt and Ghana. Background from left: Kwadwo Asamoah, Michael Essien, Rashid Sumaila, Fatau Dauda, André Ayew and Jerry Akaminko. Foreground from left: Asamoah Gyan, Harrison Afful, Daniel Opare, Majeed Waris and Sulley Muntari.Ahmed Gomaa/The Associated Press
Group G - In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, the United States national soccer team poses prior to the start their friendly soccer match between Austria and the United States. Background from left: Omar Gonzalez, Tim Howard, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, Michael Bradley and Brek Shea. Foreground from left: Jermaine Jones, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Aron Johannsson and Jozy Altidore.Hans Punz/The Associated Press
GROUP G - In this June 13, 2012 file photo, Portugal soccer team poses prior to the start the Euro 2012 soccer championship Group B match between Portugal and the Netherlands. Background from left: Nani, Helder Postiga, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rui Patricio. Foreground from left: Joao Moutinho, Fabio Coentrao, Raul Meireles, Joao Pereira and Miguel Veloso.Armando Franca/The Associated Press
GROUP H - In this June 7, 2013 file photo, Belgium soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup Group A qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Serbia. Foreground from left: Kevin Mirallas, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin De Bruyne, Nacer Chadli, Jan Vertonghen. Background from left: Thibaut Courtois, Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel, Daniel Van Buyten, Vincent Kompany.Geert Vanden Wijngaert/The Associated Press
GROUP H - In this Nov. 19, 2013 file photo, Algeria's national soccer team poses prior to the start the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Burkina Faso and Algeria. Background from left: Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche, Faouzi Ghoulam, Mehdi Mostefa-sbaa, Carl Medjani, Islam Slimani and Madjid Bougherra. Foreground from left: El Arbi Hillel Soudani, Nacereddine Khoualed, Sofiane Feghouli, Medhi Lacen, Yacine Brahimi.Anis Belghoul/The Associated Press
GROUP H - In this Oct. 12, 2013 file photo South Korea soccer team poses prior to the start their friendly soccer match against Brazil. Foreground from left: Koo Ja-cheol, Han Kook-young, Kim Jin-su, Lee Chung-yong and Lee Yong. Background from left: Hong Jeong-ho,Ji Dong-won, Ki Sung-yueng, Kim Young-gwon, Jung Sung-ryong, Kim Bo-kyung.Ahn Young-joon/The Associated Press
GROUP H - In this Oct. 15, 2013 file photo, Russia national team poses prior to the start the World Cup Group F qualifying soccer match between Russia and Azerbaijan. Foreground from left: Victor Faizulin, Dmitry Kombarov, Denis Glushakov, Alexander Kerzhakov and Alexander Samedov. Background from left: Alexander Kokorin, Alexey Kozlov, Vasili Berezutsky, Sergey Ignashevich, Igor Akinfeev, and Roman Shirokov.Alexander Mysyakin/The Associated Press