Bahrain came out attacking against Uzbekistan in the second leg of their AFC playoff on WED 12 OCT 2005, and despite never finding net, they also kept the Uzbeks off the scoreboard. With a 0-0 result on the day and a 1-1 aggregate scoreline, Bahrain moved through on away goals, 1-0, thanks to Talal MOHAMED's goal in the first leg in Tashkent. Trinidad-Tobago will face Bahrain in the AFC/CONCACAF playoff.

In a unique case, the first leg of the AFC playoff has been annulled by the FIFA World Cup Organising Committee. The match, which Uzbekistan won 1-0 over Bahrain in Tashkent, was marred by controversy in the 39th minute when referee Toshimitsu YOSHIDA ruled that an Uzbek player had encroached on the area during Server DJEPAROV's penalty kick. The problem, however, was that Yoshida failed to order a retake, as the Laws of the Game dictate, and instead awarded Bahrain a free kick. Hence, both legs of the playoff will now be pushed back, the first leg due in Tashkent on SAT 08 OCT 2005 and the second leg in Manama on WED 12 OCT 2005.

Bahrain's playoff opponents were revealed in the AFC third round WED 17 AUG 2005. more...

All four automatic Men's World Cup berths were secured in the AFC third round on WED 08 JUN 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the AFC third round on FRI 03 JUN 2005. more...

On FRI 29 APR 2005, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee handed down punishments for crowd trouble at 2006 Men's World Cup qualifiers in MAR 2005. Korea DPR must play at a neutral venue, with doors closed, against Japan on WED 08 JUN 2005 after unrest at AFC group B matches against Bahrain and Iran. Iran, in turn, must play Korea DPR on FRI 03 JUN 2005 with no more than 50,000 spectators in attendance. Six were killed in a crush at the exits at Iran's match against Japan on FRI 25 MAR 2005. Georgia, whose fans threw objects onto the field at UEFA Group 2 matches against Greece and Turkey, are to face the Ukraine on SAT 03 SEP 2005 and Kazakhstan on SAT 08 OCT 2005 behind closed doors. In addition, Korea DPR were fined 20,000 Swiss francs [US$16,700], Iran CHF30,000 [US$25,100], and Georgia CHF5,000 [US$4,200]. All of these decisions can be appealed.

A quick summary of action around the AFC third round on WED 30 MAR 2005. more...

State media in Iran has reported that five spectators died after the Iran-Japan match in Tehran on FRI 25 MAR 2005. The state news agency, IRNA, said that there were about 40 injuries as well but did not address why there was a rush toward the exits following the AFC third round Group B match. Local authorities and FIFA have both begun investigations into the incident.

A quick summary of action around the AFC third round on FRI 25 MAR 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the AFC third round on WED 09 FEB 2005. more...

The eight surviving Asian teams were drawn into their AFC third round groups on THU 09 DEC 2004. Group 1 features Korea Rep, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan, whilst Group 2 will involve Bahrain, Iran, Japan, and Korea DPR. The matches will be contested between WED 09 FEB-WED 17 AUG 2005, with the top two in each group qualifying for Germany 2006. The third placed teams must then face one another for the right to contest the AFC/CONCACAF playoff.

The teams in the AFC third round are Bahrain, Iran, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Rep, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. They will be drawn into two groups of four on THU 09 DEC 2004. In the CONCACAF final round, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Trinidad-Tobago, and the United States will play in a single group. Both rounds begin on WED 09 FEB 2005.

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

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

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 the AFC second round on WED 08 SEP 2004. more...