FIFA Announces Seeds and Pots

Today was a much anticipated day across the football world.  It was the day FIFA would announce the seeds and pots for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  It was pretty much as expected.  The only difference is that France was not seeded and Netherlands was.  Could this be punishment for the Thierry Henry handball incident.  FIFA says no, but they probably just didn't want to hear any more bitching from the English speaking media about France doesn't deserve to be in or what would have inevitably come up was France doesn't deserve to be seeded.  So they appeases those people, sort of by not making France seeded and giving it to Netherlands who has looked quite impressive in qualifying. 

The FIFA Organising Committee approved the procedure for the final draw today. The seeding was based on the October 2009 FIFA World Ranking and seven squads joined hosts South Africa as seeded teams for the final draw which will take place Friday, December 4, 2009. The committee also approved the composition of the other pots as well as the procedure for the final draw. Pot B will be composed of teams from Asia, North, Central America and the Caribbean and Oceania. Pot C will include teams from Africa and South America. Pot D will have the remaining European teams.

Hosts South Africa will be automatically positioned as A1; the other seeded teams will be drawn into the other groups B–H, but will always be in position 1 of their group. Groups will be drawn from A to H and the positions in the group will be drawn for Pots B to D. Geographical criteria will also be respected, meaning that no two teams from the same confederation will be drawn in the same group (except European teams, where a maximum of two will be in a group). That is, South Africa cannot play the African teams from Pot C and Argentina and Brazil cannot be drawn against the three remaining South American teams.  So without any further rambling here are the seeds and pots.


Pot A (Seeded Teams)
- South Africa
- Brazil
- Spain
- Netherlands
- Italy
- Germany
- Argentina
- Italy

Pot B (Asia, Oceania, CONCACAF Teams)
- Australia
- Japan
- North Korea
- South Korea
- New Zealand
- Honduras
- Mexico
- United States

Pot C (Africa and South America Teams)
- Algeria
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Ivory Coast
- Nigeria
- Chile
- Paraguay
- Uruguay

Pot D (European Teams)
- Denmark
- France
- Greece
- Portugal
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Switzerland