Updated: Dec. 6, 2005
Netherlands is surprise omissionAssociated Press
LEIPZIG, Germany -- The Netherlands was left out of the top seedings for Friday's World Cup draw and could end up in the same group as perennial rival Germany or defending champion Brazil.
The omission of the world's third-ranked team was the biggest surprise at Tuesday's announcement of the seedings for the 2006 tournament. Mexico and Spain were the only teams never to win the World Cup that were picked for the top eight, which also included host Germany, Brazil, England, France, Argentina and Italy.
The United States just missed being one of the top eight.
Germany and Brazil were automatically seeded for Friday's draw and will head groups A and F, allowing the powerhouses to play in Berlin, Munich and Dortmund, the three biggest stadiums.
Jim Brown, FIFA's director of competitions, said "economic factors" played a leading role in putting the defending champion and the host team at the biggest arenas.
England was happy to be among the seeded teams. In 2002, England was picked to play Argentina, Nigeria and Sweden in the first round.
"This is a big boost, but when the tournament starts we must show on the pitch why we have been seeded," England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson told the English federation Web site.
For Brazil, going for its sixth championship, first-round opponents matter little.
"I don't have any preference," Real Madrid defender Roberto Carlos said. "I have already participated in two World Cups and I did play against all teams. So, I don't know and I don't have any preference."
The Netherlands had been lobbying for a top seeding, but its non-qualification for the World Cup in 2002 damaged its chances. The Dutch lost to Brazil in the semifinals in a penalty shootout at France 1998.
Despite the lobbying, Dutch coach Marco van Basten expected his team to be omitted from the top eight.
"The Netherlands wasn't there at the last World Cup in 2002," he said in a statement. "So I think it's logical that we're not among the top seeds this time."
FIFA based its seedings on results at the last two World Cups and the world rankings of the past three years.
Based on that rule, Brazil topped the standings with 64 points, ahead of England with 51, Spain with 50 and Germany with 48. The fifth-ranked team was Mexico with 47, followed by France with 46. Argentina and Italy tied in seventh with 44 points.
The United States scored 43 points. The Dutch were well back with 38.
The Netherlands, a two-time World Cup runner-up, failed to make the seedings despite being third in the FIFA rankings behind Brazil and the Czech Republic.
Spain and Mexico have never reached the final at a World Cup. Spain, a perennial underachiever, qualified only through the European playoffs. Mexico was runner-up behind the United States in the North and Central America and Caribbean group. The Czechs failed to qualify for the previous three World Cups.
The draw also was set up to prevent teams from the same continent landing in the same group. Europe, with 14 of the 32 teams, is the exception. But no more than two European teams will be paired in the same group.
The field has four teams each from South America, Asia and the CONCACAF region, and five from Africa. Australia represents Oceania.
Under a complicated decision, Serbia-Montenegro will be in a special pot at Friday's draw and will be in a group with either Brazil, Argentina or Mexico to avoid the possibility of a group with three European teams.
FIFA said the World Cup winner will earn $18.75 million. Each team will be guaranteed at least $1.5 million per group game, assuring each team a minimum of at least $4.5 million.