Cobi Jones -- Team USA Soccer Drew World Cup 'GROUP OF DEATH'

Team USA was "definitely drawn into a Group of Death" during the World Cup scheduling this morning ... and survival ain't gonna be easy ... so says U.S. soccer legend Cobi Jones.

In case you haven't heard ... USA was placed in Group G ... along with Germany, Portugal and Ghana -- some of the toughest teams in the world.

In fact, Germany's currently the #2 team in the world ... and Portugal is #5. Team USA is considered the 14th best squad in the tourney.

Jones -- who played for the U.S. in three World Cup tournaments -- told us, "The USA has definitely been drawn into a Group of Death. This is not going to be a cake walk for our boys."

The WC begins in June in Brazil -- Team USA will kick off against Ghana on June 16.