Pernambuco will host matches for Italy and Germany.

The draw for the World Cup groups saw the return of Italy and Japan to Arena Pernambuco after last year's Confederations Cup, and also included Germany, the United States, Croatia, and Mexico; the first match will be on June 15th between Ivory Coast and Japan in Group C; then, Costa Rica and Italy will face each other in Group D on June 21st; Mexico and Croatia (who are in Group A along with Brazil) will play on June 23rd. The last match of the first phase will be between Germany and the United States in Group G; Pernambuco will also host a Round of 16 match in June.

December 06, 2013, 18:43 AMUpdated May 27, 2019, 10:13 AM

The draw for the World Cup groups saw the return of the Italian and Japanese national teams to Arena Pernambuco after last year's Confederations Cup, and also included Germany, the United States, Croatia, and Mexico; the first match will be on June 15th between Ivory Coast and Japan, in Group C; then, Costa Rica and Italy will face each other in Group D on June 21st; Mexico and Croatia (who are in Group A along with Brazil) will play on June 23rd. The last match of the first phase will be between Germany and the United States, in Group G; Pernambuco will also host a Round of 16 match in June (Photo: Paulo Emílio).

247 - Vice-Governor João Lyra Neto celebrated the results of the draw for the World Cup in Brazil, which took place this Friday (December 6th) in Costa do Sauípe, Bahia. The draws saw the return of the Italian and Japanese national teams to Arena Pernambuco after last year's Confederations Cup, and also included Germany, the United States, Croatia, and Mexico.

"The draw made us very happy, but aware of our responsibilities. Pernambuco will host great games in the World Cup, as it did in the Confederations Cup last year. We will do our part in the competition, and we are certain that the people of Pernambuco will participate with great enthusiasm in the games and the World Cup atmosphere," highlighted João Lyra, who represented Governor Eduardo Campos at the ceremony.

Four of the five matches to be held at Arena Pernambuco have also been confirmed. The first game will be on June 15th, between Ivory Coast and Japan, in Group C. Next, Costa Rica and Italy will face each other in Group D on June 21st. Mexico and Croatia (who are in Group A along with Brazil) will play on June 23rd. The final match of the first phase will be between Germany and the United States, in Group G.

Arena Pernambuco will also host a Round of 16 match of the World Cup on June 29th. The first-place team in Group D (which includes Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, and Italy) will face the second-place team in Group C (containing Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, and Japan). The 2014 World Cup begins on June 12th with the match between Brazil and Croatia in São Paulo.