Brazil have been given a difficult draw for the 2010 World Cup and will face Portugal, North Korea and Ivory Coast, regarded by many as Africa’s best team.
Hosts South Africa will launch the first World Cup on African soil with a match against Mexico in Johannesburg.
England will meet the United States, Cameroon face the Netherlands, and Germany will play Australia and Ghana.
European champions Spain were given a relatively kind draw and will take on Switzerland, Honduras and Chile.
The draw for the 32-nation tournament was made at a ceremony in Cape Town and broadcast to more than 250 million people worldwide.
There were gasps in the audience when three of the strongest nations – Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast – were put together in Group G.
Two-time champions Argentina are pooled with 2004 European champions Greece, Nigeria and South Korea.
2010 World Cup draw
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, South Korea, Nigeria, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Ghana, Serbia
Group E: Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon, Denmark
Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Cost, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Honduras, Chile, Switzerland