Eight nations representing each corner of the globe will participate in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa. A pre-cursor to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the winning regional champions from around the world will battle for for the title on the same pitches the world will be watching in earnest next summer.

The top two teams from each of the two groups will advance to the knockout round semifinals, where the winner from Group A will face the second place team from Group B, and the winner of Group B will taken on the runner-up from Group A. Semifinal winners will meet at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on June 28 in the final.

From Europe, the reigning European champions Spain have been drawn in Group A, along with hosts South Africa, New Zealand and Iraq.

In Group B, the United States will have its hands full with the world champions Italy, along with the legendary Brazilians and the up-and-coming Egyptians from Africa.