The coach of the United States coach Bob Bradley hopes being drawn against England will help boost the profile of the game in his country.

The USA will open their campaign at the tournament against the Three Lions in Rustenburg on June 12. Although football remains a minority sport across the Atlantic, the England midfielder David Beckham is a well-known figure.

Beckham, who plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, will be the focus of US-coverage of the tournament. Beckham had a public falling out with Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan, a regular in the USA side, earlier this year.

"It will be interesting to come up against Beckham. He has brought the spotlight on to the game in the United States and has been tremendous. I think he has helped our game grow," said Bradley

"There could not be a bigger game for these players than to open up against England."

Donovan was also excited to come up against his Galaxy teammate in a competitive international match.

"I can't believe it, I got to text him, it's a great match-up. It's going to be really exciting," he said.

The Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek said the draw was "one of the toughest" his side could have been given, while the Algeria coach Rabah Saadane also seemed to be preparing for an exit in the group stage.

"I think it's a difficult group. It's got teams with lots of experience who have big coaches like Mr Capello at England," he said.

"It's a group that gives England and the USA an advantage. I think England are now a team that can go far in the World Cup because they've always had individual quality but now they've got vigour thanks to Italian Capello."