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...

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...

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.

Iran's Ali KARIMI was awarded the AFC's Player of the Year award on THU 09 DEC 2004, becoming the fourth Iranian to win the honour since its inauguration ten years ago. Karimi's accomplishments include a hat trick in a 4-3 win over Korea Rep in the Asian Cup quarterfinals and a league leading 14 goals for his club, Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates. A'ala HUBAIL of Bahrain and Shunsuke NAKAMURA of Japan were the other finalists. Awards also given include PARK Chu Young of Korea Rep as best youth player, Japan as the team of the year, and Iraq's Adnan HAMD as best coach.

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 13 OCT 2004. more...

Japan took an early lead on Takashi FUKUNISHI's header and held on to defeat China PR 3-1 in the final of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in Beijing. Though LI Ming drew the hosts level again shortly thereafter, Japan moved out in front again in the 65th minute when Koji NAKATA deflected in a corner; a furious Chinese side protested handball to no avail. Keiji TAMADA added a third in stoppage time to secure Japan's third continental title. Japanese midfielder Shunsuke NAKAMURA took home the tournament's most valuable player award, whilst A'ala HUBAIL of Bahrain and Ali KARIMI of Iran tied for the tournament lead with five goals.