Brazil, Italy, Egypt and the United States were drawn together in the tougher of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup first round groups.
The other group includes hosts South Africa, Spain, Iraq and New Zealand in a draw conducted by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke with assistance from the reigning Miss World and seven contestants for the 2008 event here.
Maintaining tradition, the opening fixture will feature the host nation so South Africa tackle Iraq at Ellis Park on 14 June followed four hours later by New Zealand against Spain in the north-west town of Rustenburg.
Bloemfontein and Pretoria are the other Confederations Cup venues with the fifth choice, the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, sidelined owing to jitters about whether their new stadium would be ready for the 14-28 June event.
Brazil and France have won the Confederations Cup twice each and Mexico once and the Brazilians are the only country to feature in the five previous editions.
