A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 26 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...

On WED 09 MAR 2005, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided to punish Albania and Costa Rica with closed door bans after crowd trouble at recent Men's World Cup qualifiers. Albania's UEFA Group 2 match against the Ukraine on WED 09 FEB 2005 was marred by objects thrown from the stand and a pitch invasion after the final whistle. Because Albania had already been fined and warned for a previous incident, it was fined 40,000 Swiss francs [US$34,500] and ordered to play the next two home matches [against Georgia on SAT 04 JUN 2005 and Kazakhstan on SAT 03 SEP 2005] behind closed doors. Missiles were also thrown at the CONCACAF final round match between Costa Rica and Mexico on the same day, requiring a police escort as the Mexican squad left the pitch. Costa Rica's fine is 20,000 Swiss francs [US$17,000], with the home match against Panama on SAT 26 MAR 2005 also to be played behind closed doors. Both nations can appeal the decisions.

A quick summary of action around the CONCACAF final round on WED 09 FEB 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 09 FEB 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 CONCACAF semifinal round on WED 17 NOV 2004. more...

A quick summary of action around CONMEBOL on WED 17 NOV 2004. more...

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...

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...