A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 17 NOV 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the AFC second round on WED 17 NOV 2004. more...

The FIFA World Cup Organising Committee has decided to place Germany in the opening match at the 2006 Men's World Cup. This will represent the first time the host nation plays the Men's World Cup opener since Mexico and the Soviet Union drew 0-0 on SUN 31 MAY 1970 in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The Germany 2006 opener will be FRI 09 JUN 2006 at FIFA WM Stadion in München.

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 13 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around CONMEBOL on TUE 12-THU 14 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the CONCACAF semifinal round on WED 13 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the AFC second round on WED 13 OCT 2004. more...

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.

Shortly after the end of the Togo-Mali match in CAF second round Group 1 on SUN 10 OCT 2004, four were killed in a stampede that started with a power outage. Spectators exiting Kegue Stadium in Lomé reportedly panicked when the lights went out, leading to a surge toward the exits. However, reports that three had died in Conakry prior to the match between Guinea and Morocco in Group 5 were disproved, although several fans were injured trying to enter the stadium without tickets. Investigations into both incidents are underway.

The AFC second round Group 2 match between Chinese Taipei and Palestine was postponed one day to THU 14 OCT 2004 after a delay in securing exit visas for the Palestinian players. The squad could only leave for Taipei two days before the originally scheduled date; FIFA rescheduled the match to allow enough preparation time for each side. Both teams are already out of contention for the group's only third round berth.

A quick summary of action around CONMEBOL on the weekend of SAT 09-SUN 10 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the CONCACAF semifinal round on the weekend of SAT 09-SUN 10 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second round on the weekend of FRI 08-SUN 10 OCT 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 09 OCT 2004. more...

The matches that Kenya missed during their two month suspension from international football have been rescheduled. Each of the CAF second round Group 5 matches will be played on a reserved friendly date on the international calendar. Kenya will host Guinea on WED 17 NOV 2004, visit Morocco on WED 09 FEB 2005, and travel to Tunisia on WED 17 AUG 2005. The new dates were fixed by FIFA's organising committee for Germany 2006 after meetings involving the four nations.

A quick summary of action around the AFC second round on WED 08 SEP 2004. more...