MADRID: World Cup favourites Spain are due to choose Rustenburg, the mining city situated at altitude north east of Johannesburg, for their World Cup base, according to reports here Saturday.

The European champions, FIFA's top-ranked team, were pitted against fellow Hispanic nations Honduras and Chile in Group H, along with Switzerland, in the draw made in Cape Town on Friday.

Media reaction here to the draw was favourable, but the possibility of facing Brazil, Portugal or Ivory Coast, in the next round was described as "diabolical" by Sports daily Marca.

Spain's first match will be at Durban against the Swiss, followed by the Hondurans in Johannesburg and Chile in nearby Pretoria.

Reflecting on Friday's draw Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said: "We can't complain or be happy. But each team has its qualities -- Honduras is a good team, Chile is a great team and Switzerland will be a difficult rival."

If Spain do choose Rustenburg they will have as their neighbours England, who are due to set up camp at the town's Royal Bafokeng Sports Complex.