The eight participating nations have now confirmed their squad lists for the competition.

The 8th edition of the FIFA Confederations Cup will kick off next Sunday June 14 in South Africa. The competition which serves as a prelude to the World Cup brings together eight team comprising the six continental champions, the world champion and host country. That is, the reigning African, Asian, European, Oceanian, South American and Concacaf (North and Central America and the Caribbean) champions.

This year, the participating teams will include African champs Egypt, Asian champs Iraq, European champs Spain, Oceanian champs New Zealand, South American champs Brazil, Concacaf champs USA, World Cup winners Italy, and 2010 hosts South Africa. The teams have been divided into two groups with Group A described as the pool of death comprising, South Africa, Brazil, Italy and Spain. Group B is consisted of Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand and the United States of America.

Hosts South Africa, will open the competition against Iraq at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 14 June, immediately following the opening ceremony. One of the matches expected to set the tournament alight is the meeting between Italy and previous World Cup winners Brazil. It will be the first time that Italy and Spain play competitive matches on African soil and the first time that New Zealand plays any kind of soccer match in Africa, whereas the defending champions, Brazilians will be making only their second visit in 10 years.

Played in the World Cup host country a year before football's premier event, the Confederations Cup has become a serious test of the host country's World Cup readiness and a major sporting event in its own right.