Auckland, New Zealand: The draw for the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 has taken place in Auckland, mapping out the group-stage challenge for each of the 24 teams involved.

Asian champions Qatar were drawn in the apparently difficult Group C, alongside Colombia, Portugal and an as-yet undecided African opponent.

Hosts New Zealand, meanwhile, will take on Ukraine in the opening match on 30 May, this in a section that also includes USA and debutants Myanmar.

As for the tournament’s other first-timers, Fiji, they face a demanding debut in the U-20 showpiece, with their first match a baptism of fire against European champions Germany.

Proceedings were conducted by FIFA’s Events Director, Colin Smith and Senior Competitions Manager, Rhiannon Martin, with help from draw assistants Danny Hay, Wynton Rufer, Steve Sumner and Ivan Vicelich. There were also speeches from New Zealand’s Minister for Sport and Recreation, Jonathan Coleman, and from FIFA Vice-President Jeffrey Webb, who spoke of the tournament’s legendary potential for unearthing stars.

“Several of the players who have starred in previous FIFA U-20 World Cups played at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, such as James Rodriguez and Paul Pogba,” said Webb, who is also Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee. “No doubt we will see more World Cup stars discovered here in a New Zealand in a few months’ time. This is a wonderful competition that inspires many youngsters, both boys and girls alike, to play the game and to follow football clubs.”

New Zealand 2015 will be the 20th edition of the U-20 World Cup, a tournament already famous for helping launch the careers of Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and many more of the game’s all-time greats. It will be held between 30 May and 20 June in seven cities across the country’s north and south islands.

Full draw

Group A
New Zealand
Ukraine
USA
Myanmar

Group B
Argentina
Panama
CAF 3
Austria

Group C
Qatar
Colombia
Portugal
CAF 4

Group D
Mexico
CAF 2
Uruguay
Serbia

Group E
CAF Champion
Brazil
Korea DPR
Hungary

Group F
Germany
Fiji
Uzbekistan
Honduras

The four CAF representatives will be determined atthe upcoming African U-20 Championship 2015, whichwill take place in Senegalbetween 8and 22 March.