The Germans, who won the last two women’s World Cup competitions in 2003 and 2007, will play their opening match against Canada in Berlin on June, 26 following the announcement of the draw in Frankfurt on Monday evening.

Top-ranked United States, which won the cup in both 1991 and 1999, face North Korea, Colombia and Sweden in Group C, while Japan, the seeded team in Group B, meet Mexico, New Zealand and England.

Germany has beaten both Canada and Nigeria comfortably in recent friendly matches, though Nigeria is the African champion. The Germans were 5-0 winners over Canada in September and thrashed Nigeria 8-0 last week.

But German striker Birgit Prinz said those friendlies would not be significant when it came to the championship next year. The hosts had drawn “difficult opponents,” she said.

Brazil, losing finalists in 2007, face Australia, Equatorial Guinea and 1995 winners Norway in Group D.

Canada coach Carolina Morace said: “It’s always difficult to play the first game in a tournament but we are looking forward to it.”

Thirty-two matches will be played from June 26 to July 17 in nine stadiums in Augsburg, Berlin, Bochum, Dresden, Frankfurt, Leverkusen, Mönchengladbach, Sinsheim and Wolfsburg.

The tournament comes five years after the 2006 men’s World Cup in Germany.

The opening game will be played at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, venue for the 2006 World Cup final, with the final to be staged at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt.

DPA/The Local/dw