time defending champion Germany will kick off the women's World Cup next year against Canada at Berlin's Olympic stadium. Monday's draw also put the top-ranked United States in a strong Group C with North Korea, Colombia and Sweden. “It's a tough group but if you want to win the World Cup you have to win every single game,” said Pia Sundhage, the Swedish-born coach of the US team. Germany also has France and African champion Nigeria, which it recently beat 8-0 in a friendly, in Group A. “They will be a different team next year,” Germany coach Silvia Neid. Japan will play against New Zealand, Mexico and England in Group B. In Group D, Brazil will face Australia, newcomer Equatorial Guinea and Norway, the only nation to win the women's title apart from Germany and the United States. The opening game is June 26. The final is in Frankfurt on July 17. The tournament follows the highly successful men's World Cup in 2006 and will be played in nine German cities. The draw was affected by snowy weather that prevented Germany great Franz Beckenbauer and former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn from attending the ceremony. Instead, former Germany midfielder Guenter Netzer joined model Adriana Karembeu in conducting the draw. FIFA president Sepp Blatter excused himself, citing a busy schedule. The Americans were the last team to qualify for the 16-nation tournament, beating Italy in a playoff Saturday after being stunned by Mexico in the semifinals of regional qualifying. Still, the US is a top seed, along with Germany, Japan and Brazil. The US opens June 28 in Dresden against North Korea, the fourth straight time these nations will meet in the group stage. The Americans beat the North Koreans 3-0 in 1999 and 2003, but drew 2-2 in 2007. “At the time, we had a very experienced team, now we have a very young, inexperienced team and I am a little bit worried,” North Korea coach Kim Kwang-min said through an interpreter. “Maybe we can win with our spirit. “After the last World Cup, we went through a change of generations and it was successful.” The North Koreans finished runnerup at the recently concluded Asian Games. The Americans won the World Cup twice in 1991 and 1999, and they have finished no worse than third. The Americans cannot play Germany until at least the semifinals. The Germans beat the US 3-0 in the 2003 semis but the Americans are 5-0-2 against the world's No. 2 team since then, including a 3-2 victory in the Algarve Cup final this year.
