How will the draw be organized?

[dawgtide]

"FIFA World Cup holders Brazil and hosts Germany are the only seeded teams. Theoretically, should both win all their matches, the Final in Berlin on 9 July would be between Brazil and Germany."


I know Germany is going to be in Group A. Does this mean Brazil will top Group E? or maybe D? I guess it is no big deal, but just curious. Thanks in advance.

[Borruma]

Group F. A letter which will probably sum up Brazil's group opponents if previous draws are to go by. :)

[dayvi]

"FIFA World Cup holders Brazil and hosts Germany are the only seeded teams. Theoretically, should both win all their matches, the Final in Berlin on 9 July would be between Brazil and Germany."


I know Germany is going to be in Group A. Does this mean Brazil will top Group E? or maybe D? I guess it is no big deal, but just curious. Thanks in advance.


That's an interesting quote, indeed. Could you name the source or post a link? If it were to be taken literally, it is a radical departure from past world cups. Does this mean that the following group is possible?

Brazil
Netherlands
Italy
Mexico

It sure would be a great group, but what a shame for the competition in general.

I'm sure what is meant is that Germany and Brazil are the only seeded teams that will be placed in specific groups.

[Ombak]

That's an interesting quote, indeed. Could you name the source or post a link? If it were to be taken literally, it is a radical departure from past world cups. Does this mean that the following group is possible?

Brazil
Netherlands
Italy
Mexico

It sure would be a great group, but what a shame for the competition in general.

I'm sure what is meant is that Germany and Brazil are the only seeded teams that will be placed in specific groups.No, it means that Brazil and Germany are definitely seeded and that their groups are known.

Although... if taken literally, I guess you're right... I hope it's not.

[dawgtide]

I will try to find it again. It was in an article about the expected viewership of the draw on December 9. They are expecting to set records.

I think the statement just means Germany and Brazil are known to be in two groups that cannot meet until the final due to the brackets.

[scaryice]

Germany is in Group A, and I believe they have placed Brazil in Group F, meaning that they likely wouldn't meet until the final. Other than that, everything is the same. Still 8 seeds.

[dawgtide]

Here ya go, hope it works:

fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/050808/1/4a2t.html

Paste that in your browser.

[bigdelta]

Does anyone know on what channel we can watch the draw?Should be at 2:30 PM ET.
Or possibly 1:30 PM ET after the time change.

[BSjanitor]

I think the statement just means Germany and Brazil are known to be in two groups that cannot meet until the final due to the brackets.

... if they both win all their games. Once the draw is done, the bracket is NOT defined "superbowl style" like in the last world cup. The two sides of the bracket are A, C, E, G and B, D, F, H. Group winners go to one side of the bracket, runners-up to the other side. If, if Brazil finish second in their group and Germany finish first (like Confed. Cup), they could possibly meet in the semifinals.

This is the WC2006 bracket:

1A - 2B
1A/2B - 1C/2D
1C - 2D
Semi 1
1E - 2F
1E/2F - 1G/2H
1G - 2H
Final
1B - 2A
1B/2A - 1D/2C
1D - 2C
Semi 2
1F - 2E
1F/2E - 1H/2G
1H - 2G

[Timanfaya]

Group F
How do you know that?...

[mickhayafe]

All I know is that I can't wait

[jec1]

only time will tell

[Benton]

Does anyone know on what channel we can watch the draw?Should be at 2:30 PM ET.
Or possibly 1:30 PM ET after the time change.

The draw has never been broadcast on an English speaking network in the U.S. Only on Telemundo. I have written ESPN twice already requesting theLIVE broadcast of the draw. The more requests they get, the better chance we have of seeing it.

[Flyin Ryan]

I watched the '98 draw on ESPN.

[Cris 09]

LOL..here in Ecuador they actually show it on just about every local chanel. This happened even before they qualified for Japan-Korea 2002.

[MasterShake29]

I would hope at the least it's on ESPNEWS, if not ESPN2.

[Autogolazo]

Have they ever put a non-host nation in a specific group ahead of time before?

This reeks of rigging the system.

[eldiablito]

Have they ever put a non-host nation in a specific group ahead of time before?

This reeks of rigging the system.

In a word, YES.

The returning champion is always put in a group first--the group that would meet the host in the final (if both teams place first in their groups and then win all their subsequent games).

Recently, that group has typically been group A. In 1994, that group was group C. The letter isn't as important as the fact that the opening game (since 1974 iirc) has always been played by the cupholder. So really, whatever group has the opening game is the one assigned the current champion.

However, because the cupholder no longer gets an automatic berth to the world cup, 2006's world cup has reverted back to pre-1974 when the host-nation was featured in the opening match. So, Germany was placed in group A. Once Brazil qualified it's no real shock they were placed in Group F.

Typically, to ensure a financially successful cup, the champion plays in the largest stadia (presumably in packed houses). The actual fixtures has been known for eons and looking at the fixtures one can ascertain that both A and F are played in three of Germany's largest cities and the first places in each of those groups won't meet until the final.

I guess you could call it rigging, but it's been happening every time.

[mfw13]

Here's my guess, based on the fact that the eight seeds will almost certainly be composed of 2 South American teams (Brazil and Argentina), 5 European teams (Germany, France, England, Italy, and Holland or Spain) and 1 CONCACAF team (Mexico).

Pot A: the aforementioned eight seeded teams.

Pot B: the other eight European teams

Pot C: the eight teams from CONCACAF and Asia

Pot D: the five teams from Africa and the remaining three teams from South America (assuming the 5th placed SA team beats Australia)

If Asia wins the playoff with CONCACAF, then things in the last two pots could get switched, with Africa (5) and CONCACAF (3) in one pot, and Asia (5) and the three remaining South American teams in the other.

If I am right, a group of death could include Brazil, Holland, and the USA....three teams in the top ten of FIFA's rankings.

Conversely, the easiest hypothetical group could be Mexico, the lowest ranked UEFA team (Norway, Slovakia, or Switzerland perhaps ), Bahrain/Uzbekistan, and Angola.

[ursula]

I think your pot C has only seven teams. Might want to check that.