World champions Spain have been drawn with 1998 winners France, Georgia, Belarus and Finland in qualifying for the 2014 tournament.
Officially kicking off proceedings for what will be the first World Cup in Brazil in 64 years, the draw pitted England with 2012 European Championship co-hosts Ukraine and Poland in Group H.
Italy will meet Denmark and the Czech Republic in Group B, while Germany faces Sweden, Austria and Ireland in Group C.
The draw in Rio de Janeiro determined the path of 166 teams in their bid to qualify for the tournament in three years’ time.
It was the first major World Cup event in Brazil since the South American nation was awarded the competition in 2007.
As host, Brazil is the only nation that doesn’t have to qualify.
“We are happy to be back in Brazil,” FIFA President Sepp Blatter said.
Fifty-three European nations were divided into nine groups, with the winners automatically qualifying and the eight best group runners-up advancing to a playoff.
The European qualifying matches will begin on September 7 and end on October 15, 2013.
Spain is in a difficult group, the only one with five teams instead of six.
The Netherlands, last year’s runners-up in South Africa, were drawn in Group D with Turkey, Hungary and Romania, while Portugal will have to face Russia and Israel in Group F.
Group A contains Croatia, Serbia, Belgium and Scotland. Greece will play Slovakia in Group G, while Norway was drawn in Group E with Slovenia and Switzerland.
2014 World Cup draw for the Europe zone made on Saturday:
Group A: Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland, Macedonia, Wales
Group B: Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia, Malta
Group C: Germany, Sweden, 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, Leichtenstein
Group H: England, Montenegro, Ukraine, Poland, Moldova, San Marino
Group I: Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland
– Nine group winners qualify for finals; eight best second-placed teams play-off with winners also progressing.
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