Australia was in Pot 1 as a top-seeded nation after finishing 2018 in sixth in the FIFA World Rankings for 2018 and were alongside host France, Germany, England, Canada and USA.

There were four nations in Chile, Jamaica, South Africa and Scotland making their World Cup debut. 

The draw worked well for Australia, avoiding the likes of European Champions the Netherlands, who ended up in Groupe E alongside New Zealand, Canada and Cameroon.

Australia is set to face Brazil for the third consecutive time at a World Cup, with their most recent encounter in 2015 seeing the Matildas go down in 1-0 loss. 

Since then Australia has gone on to beat Brazil in their last four matches. 

"I was sitting next to the Brazilian coaching stuff and we said we had to be drawn in the same group," Matildas coach Alen Stajcic said.

"There was never any doubt we would have to come across Brazil at some point," he said.

However, the Matildas will open their World Cup account against some unfamiliar faces in Italy with the two nations have only faced each once previously. The Matildas won 5-2 back in the 2014 Cyprus Cup.

Italy returns to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1999 where they bowed out at the group stage. 

Group D has been labeled the toughest group with England, Argentina, Scotland and Japan having an average FIFA Ranking of 17.

MATCHES

June 9: Australia v Italy, Valenciennes

June 13: Australia v Brazil, Montpellier

June 18: Australia v Jamaica, Grenoble