Co-hosts South Korea and Japan have been named as the top seeds for Saturday's draw for the World Cup finals. Other countries making the eight top seeds are world champion France, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany and Spain. FIFA's organizing committee announced the decision at a news conference held Wednesday at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southern city. The committee also said that, in view of geographical and economic considerations, China will play its first-round matches in South Korea. FIFA has decided on the format for grouping 32 qualifiers. Officials say three or more European teams will not be placed in the same group.
FIFA will conduct the draw Saturday to distribute the 32 teams into four groups. A FIFA official said the eight top seeded countries will be put in the first group, eight European countries in the second group, three South American and three European countries in the third group and three North and Central American and five African countries in the fourth group.