Today, FIFA, football’s governing body divided the 32 teams that qualified for next year’s World Cup in Brazil into 4 Pots based on their strength and the geographical considerations as you see below. Pot 1 is comprised of the group leaders and was decided back in October. Chile, Ecuador and 5 African countries are in Pot 2. Iran is in Pot 3 with other AFC teams as well as US and the other 3 CONCACAF teams. Nine European teams ended up in Pot 4.

Pot 1 - Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay, Switzerland

Pot 2 - Chile, Ecuador, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria

Pot 3 - Iran, Japan, Australia, S Korea, Costa Rica, United States, Mexico, Honduras

Pot 4 - Holland, Italy, England, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Russia, Bosnia, France

On Friday Dec. 6th when the actual draw takes place, a European team from Pot 4 will be drawn and will be placed in Pot 2 to have 4 Pots of 8 teams. Then one team from each Pot will be drawn to form 8 groups (groups A through H).

The 90-minute draw for the 2014 World Cup will be held at Costa do Sauípe Resort, Mata de São João (near Salvador) in Bahia, Brazil on Friday December 6th, 2013 at 8 AM California time.

The above picture is Ipanema Beach where the “Girl from Ipanema” walked! Bahia’s most famous musician João Gilberto performed the song with his wife Astrud and Stan Getz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5QfXjsoNe4