Another pair of offense-shy matches took place on MON 26 JUN 2006. more...

Perhaps the two most compelling groups came to their surprising conclusions on THU 22 JUN 2006. more...

Few teams saw their second round uncertainty resolved on SUN 18 JUN 2006. more...

There were two surprising comebacks in one match, a repeat of recent history, and a cracking goal on TUE 13 JUN 2006. more...

The Socceroos were the biggest surprise on MON 12 JUN 2006. more...

The final draw for the 2006 Men's World Cup paired up several well known opponents, starting in Group B, where for the second straight World Cup, England will face Sweden in the first round. In Group G, qualifying rivals France and Switzerland, who battled in UEFA Group 4, meet again. Brazil, Australia, and Japan, who regularly meet at Confederations Cup tournaments, are together again in Group F. But the consensus Group of Death is likely to be Group C, made up of Argentina, Côte d’Ivoire, Serbia-Montenegro, and the Netherlands. The tournament's opening match will be Germany-Costa Rica, FRI 09 JUN 2006 in München. more...

The CONMEBOL/OFC playoff between Australia and Uruguay went to overtime after both legs finished 1-0 to the home team. After thirty goalless minutes, it became the first time a Men's World Cup place was decided on penalties. Mark SCHWARZER saved two attempts, and John ALOISI scored the winner to send Australia into their first World Cup since Germany 1974. Elsewhere, Dennis LAWRENCE was the hero for the Soca Warriors as Trinidad-Tobago won the AFC/CONCACAF playoff 2-1 on aggregate over Bahrain, qualifying for the first time. In the UEFA playoffs, Turkey stormed back from a 3-0 aggregate deficit, but Marco STRELLER scored a second away goal as the final score ended up 4-4, Switzerland qualifying 2-0 on away goals. The Czech Rep dispatched Norway 2-0 on aggregate, and Spain won 6-2 on aggregate over Slovakia.

After 837 matches played and 2,441 goals scored [not counting Mirjalal KASIMOV's goal in the Great Annulled Match of SAT 03 SEP 2005], 27 of the 32 teams to compete at Germany 2006 are known. The other five will be the winners of the AFC/CONCACAF playoff between Trinidad-Tobago and Bahrain, the CONMEBOL/OFC playoff between Uruguay and Australia, and the winners of the three UEFA playoffs. Each of the three seeded teams – Czech Rep, Spain, and Turkey – will be drawn against an unseeded team – Norway, Slovakia, and Switzerland – in Zürich on FRI 14 OCT 2005.

Three teams vied for one playoff place in CONMEBOL on WED 12 OCT 2005. more...

The other two automatic places in CONMEBOL were snapped up on the weekend of SAT 08-SUN 09 OCT 2005. more...

It was an easy time for the Socceroos as Australia defeated the Solomon Is 9-1 on aggregate to win the OFC third round. Six different players scored in Sydney in the 7-0 first leg win, though the Solomons at least offered a penalty kick goal by Henry FAARODO for their home fans. Australia's playoff against the fifth placed team in CONMEBOL begins on SAT 12 NOV 2005, with a draw on SAT 10 SEP 2005 determining who hosts which leg.

In its meeting on WED 29 JUN 2005, the FIFA Executive Committee decided to permit Australia's move from the OFC to the AFC. Australia had begun discussions with the AFC earlier in the year about the move, which will take effect SUN 01 JAN 2006. Australia become the 46th AFC member, whereas the OFC's membership roll is now down to thirteen.

Socceroo Tim Cahill has earned the 2004 OFC Player of the Year Award after a season in which he scored seven goals in five matches for Australia. The 25 year old midfielder has also starred with his clubs. His goal in the FA Cup semifinal against Sunderland led Millwall to the cup final against Manchester United. He now plays for Everton, also in England, and has scored six goals in 25 matches. Aussie teammates Mark Schwarzer and Marco Bresciano were second and third, respectively, in the voting.

Australia defeated the Solomon Is 11-1 on aggregate to win the 2004 OFC Nations Cup, Australia's fourth. The Solomon Is looked impressive during the OFC second round when they defeated the more accomplished Fiji and held the Socceroos to a draw. But with many Aussie stars returning from their clubs around the world, the Solomons could manage only a single goal from Batram SURI in the first leg, a 5-1 Australia win in Honiara. In the second leg, six different players scored Australia's goals as they secured their place in the 2005 Confederations Cup, a tournament involving the six continental champions. The same two teams will play off again, starting on SAT 03 SEP 2005, in the OFC third round of qualifying for Germany 2006.