The Republic of Ireland kick off their Brazil 2012 campaign in September next year with plenty of obstacles will need to be negotiated if Ireland are to make their first finals since 2002.
The qualifying group includes Germany, Sweden and Austria with the Faroe Islands, now managed by former Ireland manager Brian Kerr.
The final country in the Group C is Kazakhstan.
Ireland did avoid the toughest draw, Group I where Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland will battle it out.
England will face Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova and San Marino in Group H. Montenegro are currently England’s biggest rivals in qualifying for next year’s European Championship finals.
Scotland and Wales were drawn together in Group A along with Croatia, Serbia, Belgium and Macedonia. Northern Ireland take on Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg in Group F.
The winners of the nine groups qualify automatically and the eight best runners-up play off for the four places remaining.
Fifa president Sepp Blatter had launched the draw insisting the world governing body had confidence that Brazil would overcome delays in preparations.
Blatter said: “We need the support of the government of Brazil, the state governments, the organising committee and the 190 million fans of football that is the population of Brazil.
“It is a matter of trust and confidence and FIFA have trust in Brazil and are confident of its abilities. Football is the beating heart of Brazil. It is a multi-cultural country of joy and celebration blessed with natural beauty and a booming economy ranking number seven in the world.”
Today’s draw was in danger of being postponed as workers struggled to keep the roof on the giant marquee hosting the event as high winds threatened to tear it off. The winds blew across the Marina da Gloria on Rio's shoreline causing serious problems to the top of the temporary auditorium specially erected for the draw.
Security barriers more than two metres high all around the complex were also taken down because of the risk posed to more than 2,000 people at the event, including officials, guests and journalists.
Group A: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales
Group B: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta
Group C: Germany, Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands, Kazakhstan
Group D: Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Andorra
Group E: Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Iceland
Group F: Portugal, Russia, Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan, Luxembourg
Group G: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein
Group H: England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino
Group I: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland
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