West Ham United's England contingent will hope to be involved when Fabio Capello's side open their 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign against Jonathan Spector's United States.
The two teams, who will compete in Group C alongside Algeria and Slovenia, will meet on Saturday 12 June. Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole all helped Capello's men to qualify, meaning there could be four Hammers involved in what promises to be a mouth-watering tie. Spector is a regular for his country, usually at right-back.
The fixture comes a day after the finals get under way with Guille Franco's Mexico having the honour of taking on the hosts straight after the opening ceremony. Group A is completed with Uruguay and France. The draw was held in South Africa on Friday night, with David Beckham among those conducting proceedings.
Valon Behrami and Switzerland will need to get past Spain, Honduras and Chile in Group H if they are to progress to the second stage. Luis Boa Morte's Portugal could face a challenge to qualify from Group G after being put together with Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea, with Manuel da Costa hopeful his form could yet take him into national-team consideration.
England's group fixtures
Saturday 12 June v United States, Rustenberg
Friday 18 June v Algeria, Cape Town
Wednesday 23 June v Slovenia, Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth
Draw in full
Group A: South Africa, MEXICO, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C: ENGLAND, UNITED STATES, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, North Korea, Ivory Coast, PORTUGAL
Group H: Spain, SWITZERLAND, Honduras, Chile