WASHINGTON (AP) — With eyes across the globe focused on 48 balls being plucked from four bowls, next year’s World Cup came into focus Friday when a draw determined Argentina and Lionel Messi will start their title defense against Algeria and the U.S. will open against Paraguay.

Teams from five-time champion Brazil to newcomers Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan learned their group stage opponents in the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts June 11 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

“Exciting for the island, for the people there. They’re so proud,” said Dick Advoccat, the 78-year-old Dutchman leading Curaçao, a Caribbean island country with a population of 150,000, into an opener against four-time champion Germany.

The ceremony included U.S. President Donald Tru

See Full Page