Confederations Cup Draw Takes Place In São Paulo; Brazil Draws Japan In Opening Game

The countdown to the ninth FIFA Confederations Cup began when the draw for the competition was held at the Anhembi Convention Centre in São Paulo, Brazil. The draw ceremony revealed who will face who in the group phase of the tournament, which takes place in Brazil from June 15-30. Brazil will face Japan in the opening match of the competition, to be played on June 15, at Brasilia’s Estadio Nacional. The groups look as follows:

Group A: Brazil, Japan, Mexico, Italy.
Group B: Spain, Uruguay, Tahiti, the next African champions (FIFA).

PROTEST: REUTERS' Andrew Downie reported dozens of people wearing white masks and carrying banners with the word "shame" protested against "corrupt police and rampant violence in Brazil's big cities" outside the Confederations Cup football draw on Saturday. Protesters belonging to the Rio de Paz group, or River of Peace, said that they had "come to peacefully confront authorities because they were not being heard" (REUTERS, 12/1).