Costa Rica and the United States face nightmare groups in the World Cup

Costa Rica faces a nightmare group in the World Cup against three former champions: Uruguay, Italy and England.

The draw occurred Friday morning in Brazil. The Costa Rican national team, known as “La Sele,” plays Uruguay first in the sweltering city of Fortaleza on June 14. On June 20, La Sele takes on Italy in Recife. Finally, Costa Rica will finish the group round against the English on June 24 in Belo Horizonte.

The United States also faces an extremely tough draw against Germany, Portugal and Ghana – the African squad that knocked the U.S. out of the last World Cup. The last two CONCACAF teams, Mexico and Honduras, ended up with much easier draws. 

Group A: Brazil, Croatia, Mexico, Cameroon

Group B: Spain, Netherlands, Chile, Australia

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Cote d’Ivoire, Japan 

Group D: Uruguay, Costa Rica, England, Italy

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran, Nigeria

Group G: Germany, Portugal, Ghana, USA 

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, Korea Republic