World Cup draw places U.S. team in ‘group of death’

Nation Dec 6, 2013 3:52 PM EST

Dancers perform during the final draw of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil. Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images

After the interpretive dances and numerous video montages, the United States was drawn in the “group of death” for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. United States head coach Jurgen Klinsman said, “It is one of the most difficult groups of the whole draw. It couldn’t get any more difficult or any bigger but that is what the World Cup is all about.” The U.S. will face off against Ghana, Portugal and Germany in it’s first three matchups. The top two teams will advance to the round of 16.

Here is the full 2014 FIFA World Cup field. Group G, here we come. #FinalDraw pic.twitter.com/7cSHXF7dTw

— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) December 6, 2013

ESPN’s Nate Silver gave the United States, Portugal and Ghana similar chances to advance out of their group. Germany was given a high chance of advancing.

The team will also have a busy travel schedule that will see them cover nearly 3,500 miles for three games. One of their games will be played in Manaus, Brazil in a stadium situated in the middle of a rainforest.

Here’s the schedule for the United States soccer team:

June 16 vs. Ghana in Natal
June 22 vs. Portugal in Manaus
June 26 vs. Germany in Recife.

These are the 2014 World Cup groups:

Group A