FIFA explains World Cup draw procedures

Oct 15, 2013; Panama City, Panama; The FIFA flag is brought out prior to the match between the United States and Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

There was some confusion surrounding the World Cup draw procedures because Pot 2 contained seven teams while Pot 4 contained nine teams. To recap, here are the groups:

Pot 1 contains all the top seeds, four South American teams and four European teams: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland.

Pot 2 contains the african nations and the remaining two South American teams: Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Ghana and Nigeria.

Pot 3 contains the teams from Asia and CONCACAF: Australia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, Mexico, USA.

In Pot 4 are the remaining nine European teams: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, England, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia.

Here are the draw procedures as explained on FIFA.com:

1.In order to create an even flow to the draw as Pots 1-4 are emptied, we begin by drawing one ball from Pot 4 (containing a European team) and placing it into Pot 2 to achieve an equal balance of eight teams in each pot

2.Pot 1 will then be emptied beginning with Brazil; teams will be allocated to position 1 of Groups A through H sequentially

3.With the addition of the European team to Pot 2, Pot 2 will contain teams from three different qualification zones. With teams from three zones in the same pot, we increase the risk of inadvertently violating the principle of geographic separation. In order to ensure we do not mistakenly end up with three European teams in the same Group, the following mechanism will be implemented:

– The four seeded South American teams will be placed in an ancillary pot – Pot X
– One of the four teams will be drawn
– The Group of the South American which is drawn will determine the Group which the European team from Pot 2 will join Final Draw Procedures

4.Pot 2 will then be emptied, beginning with the European ball:- The European team will join Group of South American team drawn from Pot X

– The remaining teams will be allocated to Groups A through H sequentially
(Note: Groups may be skipped to respect principle of geographic separation; e.g. Chile and Ecuador may not be drawn into Groups with seeded South American teams)

5.Pots 3 and 4 will then be emptied in order

6.The positions within Groups A through H will be drawn for all teams of Pots 2, 3 and 4.