World champions Spain are in Group B along with double world champions Uruguay, Oceania champions Tahiti and whoever wins the January 19-February 10 Africa Cup of Nations. The intercontinental showpiece, a dry run for the 2014 World Cup which Brazil will also host for the first time since 1950, runs to June 30, when Rio de Janeiro will host the final at the Maracana stadium.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter lauded Brazil for the giant country's efforts on readying its infrastructure for both events with six venues staging the Confederations Cup and 12 the World Cup. Although FIFA has at times been critical of the country's efforts, in recent months the game's world body has been more conciliatory and Blatter, noting the country last staged a World Cup in 1950, struck a positive tone. "A lot has changed in this country since 1950," said Blatter, noting that "it is a question of trust and confidence" to hand organisation of a major event to a country. Asian champions Japan, CONCACAF champions Mexico, and Oceania surprise package Tahiti are also invited to the party for which 132,000 tickets have already been sold, FIFA indicated Friday.