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...

The other superpower made it official in CONMEBOL on the weekend of SAT 03-SUN 04 SEP 2005. more...

One place in Germany 2006 was claimed in CONMEBOL TUE 07-WED 08 JUN 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the CONMEBOL group phase on TUE 29-WED 30 MAR 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the CONMEBOL group phase on the weekend of SAT 26-SUN 27 MAR 2005. more...

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

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

A quick summary of action around CONMEBOL on the weekend of SAT 04-SUN 05 SEP 2004. more...