Live Coverage: 2014 World Cup finals draw - as it happened

Afternoon all! Today's the day! After weeks of build-up, it is finally time for the 32 qualifying nations to discover their fate in the 2014 World Cup finals draw.

We are 188 days away from the first kick of the global tournament, when Brazil will mark the start of the World Cup in Sao Paulo, but before we get to that, we need to decide the groups, and it's a very easy process... or not.

Let's take it slow, shall we?! First of all, we need the eight seeds to take one of each group. Hosts Brazil have taken Group A, but Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and Uruguay need to be placed into B-H.

Before that though, one of the nine European non-seeds, which could be England, will have to be moved from Pot 4 to Pot 2 in order to make up the numbers. Whichever nation gets moved, they are guaranteed to meet one of the South American seeds - Brazil, Argentina, Colombia or Uruguay.

Once each pot has an equal number of teams, we can get underway. Or can we? Well, actually, we have mystery Pot 'X' to deal with. The European team that is moved to Pot 2 from will only be put in a group with one of the four South American seeds. The four South American seeds will be placed into the fifth Pot 'X', and one of these will then be drawn, and that will be the group that the European team is placed into. Still following?

Will it help if I show you the pots? Here we go again...

POT 1: Brazil, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium, Uruguay, Switzerland (seeded teams)

POT 2: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador (seven)

POT 3: Japan, Iran, South Korea, Australia, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras

POT 4: Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia, England, Greece, Italy, Netherlands Portugal, Russia, France (nine)

As you can see, Pot 4 is bursting at the seams, so one of the European nations needs to be moved into Pot 2, who hold just seven. It could potentially be unseeded England, which means that Roy Hodgson's men could be dealt a tougher draw than if they remain in Pot 4.

If the Three Lions are moved into Pot 2 then they will definitely face a South American seeded team, so what is their best case scenario and worst?

Best case: Uruguay, England, Iran, Bosnia-Hercegovina

Worst case: Brazil, England, USA, Italy

Let's also take a look at the best and worst group for England if they remain in Pot 4...

Best case: Switzerland, Algeria, Iran, England

Worst case: Brazil, Ghana, USA, England

The draw itself is expected to get underway in less than five minutes. Brazilian actors Fernanda Lima and Rodrigo Hilbert are presenting the draw, with singers Margareth Menezes, Olodum and Emicida all taking part in the opening show. Quite a treat for the guests!

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has already taken to the stage to address the audience, who all took part in a minute's applause for anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, who sadly passed away last night at the age of 95.

Blatter went on to say: "Brazil has won five World Cups and it is justice that the tournament has come here. Football connects people, builds bridges. I appeal to the population of Brazil, please come together and join everybody through this World Cup."

Let's have a quick recap, shall we? Firstly, a pre-draw will take place to move one of the European non-seeds to Pot 2.

Pot 1 will then be drawn, with Brazil being placed to Group A and the remaining top seeds into B-H.

The four South American seeds will be placed into Pot 'X' temporarily and one team is drawn into a group, which will then house the European side moved to Pot 2.

The rest of Pot 2 will then be drawn, being placed into Group A to Group H, which will be followed by Pot 3 and Pot 4. Once that is done, the position within groups will be decided drawn for all the teams in Pots two, three and four. That's when we will discover when and where the matches will be played.

Phew! That's a lot to take in, and the draw hasn't even begun yet! Speaking of, according to BBC Sport, they are running a bit late in Bahia. The draw is expected to get underway in 12 minutes' time.

Right, we're almost underway! The process is just being explained to the audience. Good luck with that...

Sir Geoff Hurst, Cafu, Zinedine Zidane and Fabio Cannavaro are all on the stage standing over their respective pots. Any minute now...

Here we go!

Group A: Brazil

Group B: Spain

Group C: Colombia

Group D: Uruguay

Group E: Switzerland

Group F: Argentina

Group G: Germany

Group H: Belgium

Now, we're turning to the controversial Pot 2, but we need to sort out mystery Pot 'X' first...

Uruguay have been chosen from Pot 'X', which means...

Group D: Uruguay, Italy

Group B: Spain, Chile

Group A: Brazil, Cameroon

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador

Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast

Group F:Argentina, Nigeria

Group G: Germany, Ghana

Group H: Belgium, Algeria

Group A: Brazil, Cameroon, Mexico

Group B: Spain, Chile, Australia

Group C: Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan

Group D: Uruguay, Italy, Costa Rica

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, Honduras

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran

Group G: Germany, Ghana, USA

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, South Korea

Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Cameroon

Group B: Spain, Chile, Australia, Netherlands

Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan

Group D: Uruguay, England, Costa Rica, Italy

Oh dear, I can't imagine Hodgson will be smiling at that! Uruguay and Italy in England's group.

Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras

Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria

Group G: Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA

Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea

Well, well, well! What do you make of that? England have a very tough start to their World Cup campaign having drawn Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica.

Not only do they have tough opponents, Hodgson's men will have to fight it out against Italy in the scorching temperatures of Manaus. The Three Lions will then take on Uruguay in Sao Paulo, before facing Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte.

Following the draw, ex-England striker Alan Shearer said on BBC Two: "That is a tough group. Anyone who wants to know how tough it's going to be just look back to the Euros when we played Italy. It's a tough, tough group. Also we didn't want to play in one of the hottest places where there is 99% humidity."

I suppose the positive of facing Italy in Manaus is the fact that both sides will be alien to the hot temperatures. It would have been worse if the Three Lions had to play a South American side in that location. However, with England being based in Rio, they will need to take a five-and-a-half-hour flight for the match.

Despite having a tough group, if England manage to reach the next stage, they will take on either the winners or runners-up of Group C, which contains Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan.

Before we have a look at the other fixtures, let's just roundup how the groups stand...

Group A: Brazil, Mexico, Croatia, Cameroon
Group B: Spain, Chile, Australia, Netherlands
Group C: Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast, Japan
Group D: Uruguay, England, Costa Rica, Italy
Group E: Switzerland, Ecuador, France, Honduras
Group F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria
Group G: Germany, Ghana, Portugal, USA
Group H: Belgium, Algeria, Russia, South Korea

That's a rather comfy group for France, who could have been dealt a bad hand, but look at Group G. Germany and Portugal will face off, while also taking on the USA and Ghana. The hosts Brazil will feel relatively comfortable with their fixtures as the prepare to take on Mexico, Croatia and Cameroon.

Reigning champions Spain have the Netherlands to contend with in their group, but you feel that they will get results against Australia and Chile to help push them into the next phase.

He may not be in the World Cup, but Welshman and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has had his say on Twitter: "Tough looking group for England but some exciting games to look forward to... Portugal v Germany and Spain v Holland in particular."

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is expected to be in the squad for next summer's tournament, has given his reaction on Twitter. He said: "Tough group... But so what? If we want to win it we will have to play the best teams anyway!!"

Some interesting ties to keep an eye out for in the group phase - Brazil vs. Croatia kicks off the tournament in Sao Paulo on June 12. Spain vs. Netherlands go head to head in Salvador a day later, while Germany vs. Portugal will face off in Salvador on June 16.

Is this a genuine or mocking tweet from Manchester City and Belgium defender Vincent Kompany? He tweeted: "England.. Awww."

We can't talk about England's opponents without mentioning Luis Suarez. The Three Lions will have the task of stopping the Liverpool striker, who is in scintillating form for the Reds at the moment. Let's not forget that stunning hat-trick against Norwich City in midweek. During their group clashes, England are likely to face Everton full-back Bryan Oviedo and AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli.

England fans, put these dates in your diary!

England vs. Italy - Manaus - Sunday, June 15 (2pm)
Uruguay vs. England - Sao Paulo - Thursday, June 19 (8pm)
Costa Rica vs. England - Belo Horizonte - Tuesday, June 24 (5pm)

According to BBC Sport, England boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that his team face a "tough" challenge. He's quoted as saying: England manager Roy Hodgson: "It's a tough group, there's no doubt about that. In Italy and Uruguay it's almost as though we have got two number one seeds in our group.

"We know how good Italy are because we lost to them in the quarter-finals at the Euros. The game is going to be tough from a climate point of view for both teams. We're both in the same boat.

"There were not going to be many scenarios where we were going to be jumping for joy. It doesn't surprise us. I suppose one positive is that we have only got one long trip then the other two are in the same neck of the woods."

Finally, the groups have been decided and now we just have to wait 188 days before the excitement begins! Thank you for joining me, and make sure to stick around on Sports Mole for all the reaction to the draw.