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
IMHO, best scenario for Iran:
Iran, Switzeland, Algeria, Croatia/Greece
I agree Kamal, and I add the following teams to your best scenario for Iran:
Iran, Switzerland, Algeria/Cameroon, Croatia/Greece/Bosnia.
But Iran could also end up in the "Group of Death":
Iran, Brazil/Argentina/Columbia/Uruguay, Holland/Italy/Potugal, Nigeria/Ivory Coast/Ghana, or:
Iran, Spain/Germany/Belgium, Holland/Italy/Potugal, Chili/Ecuador/Nigeria/Ivory Coast/Ghana.
I like your 3rd choice, personally I prefer to be in a "Group of Death" and play 3 world class teams ( Argentina, Italy/Holland, Ghana) rather than playing against relatively mediocre teams and most likely not to get to the second round either way.