THE SIDELINES : Pavarotti to Sing at Cup Draw

A Puccini aria sung by Luciano Pavarotti and an appearance by Sophia Loren will highlight the television spectacular at next month’s World Cup soccer draw, according to Italian TV officials.

The one-hour program, announced by TV officials today, will be telecast live in 80 countries Dec. 9.

The focus of the program at Rome’s Sports Palace will be the official draw of the six World Cup groups. The teams, sites and dates of the games will appear immediately on a huge electronic board. Italy, the host country; Argentina, the defending champion; West Germany; Brazil; Belgium, and Spain are expected to be the seeded teams.

Pavarotti, one of the world’s premier tenors, is scheduled to sing the aria “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s opera “Turandot” as the president of the Argentine Soccer Federation takes the World Cup onto the stage.