Ghana have been placed in Pool Two by FIFA's World Cup Organizing Committee ahead of Friday’s draw for next year’s World Cup in Germany.

The Committee today seeded the 32 finalists for next year's World Cup tournament in four groups at a ceremony in Leipzig, Germany.

Prior to the seeding the Ghana had been expected to be placed in the last tier being first timers at the finals.

But the Black Stars have been seeded alongside four other first timers- Australia, Angola, Ivory Coast, Togo- as well as Tunisia, Ecuador, Paraguay in Pool Two.

The Black Stars thus stand the chance of being in the same group as Germany, holders Brazil as well as Argentina, France, Italy, England, Spain and Mexico who make the top tier at the draw on Friday.

Today’s seeding effectively rules out the possibility of having two countries from the same geographical area in one group for the Germany World Cup.

Pool Three has Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and debutants, Ukraine.

The last Pool comprises Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, United States with Serbia & Montenegro placed in a special spot.

FIFA's World Cup Organising Committee announced the following four groups of seedings for next year's finals on Tuesday:


Pool One: Germany (hosts), Brazil (champions), Italy, France, Argentina, Spain, Mexico, England

Pool Two: Australia, Angola, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Tunisia, Ecuador, Paraguay

Pool Three: Croatia, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

Pool Four: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, United States

Special pot: Serbia & Montenegro

The full draw for the finals takes place in Leipzig on Friday. The finals start on June 9 and end on July 9, 2006.