Uruguay, Italy, England in World Cup group of death

The groups for the 2014 World Cup finals are shown on the screen after the draw was made at the Costa do Sauipe resort in Sao Joao da Mata, Bahia state, December 6, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil - Uruguay, Italy and England have been drawn together in the so-called Group of Death for next year's FIFA World Cup.

Ranked sixth, seventh and 13th respectively, they were pitted in Group D alongside Costa Rica during Friday's World Cup draw in the Brazilian resort town of Costa Do Sauipe.

Uruguay, winners of the only previous World Cup in Brazil in 1950, will kick off their quest for a third title on June 14 against Costa Rica in Fortaleza.

Hosts Brazil will open the tournament against Croatia in their Group A clash in Sao Paulo on June 12. Group A also includes Mexico and Cameroon.

World champions Spain have been drawn against Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in a tantalizing Group B. Spain will begin their title defence against the Netherlands in Salvador on June 13.

The draw was staged amid a backdrop of anti-government protests, which began during the Confederations Cup in June.

Local media reported that hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Costa do Sauipe complex Friday while rallies also took place in the cities of Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Marchers have expressed their anger that billions of dollars are being spent on the World Cup instead of improvements to essential services like health, education and transport.

Preparations for the tournament have also been hit by stadium and airport construction delays. Last week two workers died when a crane collapsed onto a facade at Sao Paulo's Itaquerao stadium.

Speaking before the draw on Friday, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke was adamant Brazil would be ready to stage the June 12-July 13 event.

"You cannot accuse us of not showing flexibility given a certain number of stadiums are not ready in the announced timeframe," Valcke said.

"If you are given a glass which is half full you use what you have in it to ensure it works. That doesn't put the organization of the World Cup at risk."

Following is the draw for Brazil 2014 (seeds listed first):

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, United States