Though football is often a subjective game, most observers could agree that Group B of the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup was the Group of Death, as hosts China PR must face off against Australia, Korea Rep, and Vietnam. The eight team tournament, to be held in Chengdu, China PR, opens on WED 19 MAY 2010 with defending Asian champions Korea DPR facing Thailand. The top three sides qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. more...

South Africa will host the 2010 African Women’s Championship, which decides two places for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. The 24 teams vying for the eight places at the tournament have been drawn into the preliminary rounds, from which only South Africa gets a bye. The highest seeded teams – Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tunisia – received byes into the final serieses, whilst the other 18 teams begin with a semifinal series. CAF qualifying begins on the weekend of FRI 05-SUN 07 MAR 2010. more...

The eight team field for the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup has been decided as Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam won their respective second preliminary round groups. All three did so by winning both of their matches. These teams join automatic qualifiers Australia, China PR, Japan, Korea Rep, and Korea DPR in the Women’s Asian Cup, to be held in Chengdu, China PR, next year. The top three teams in the tournament qualify for the 2011 Women’s World Cup.

The results of the draw for the UEFA group phase of qualifiers for Germany 2011 should please the favoured teams. Ukraine are no doubt anticipating a first qualification as they go up against Poland and Hungary in Group 4, while Russia, who missed China 2007, are due to face Ireland Rep and Switzerland in Group 6. Finland, who host Women’s Euro 2009 this summer, meet Italy and Portugal in Group 7. Winning the group is not sufficient this time, as the winners will then have to win in the playoffs next year in order to qualify. Qualifying matches begin in SEP 2009. more...

The long process to decide the sixteen participants at Germany 2011 will begin on TUE 17 MAR 2009, when the 41 teams who entered the UEFA qualifiers are drawn into eight groups. Germany, who qualify automatically as hosts, will be joined by 4½ other European sides that have been divided into five pots according to performances in the qualifiers for the 2007 Women’s World Cup and Women’s Euro 2009. The group phase will be played from SEP 2009 to AUG 2010. The group winners advance to the playoffs, where four will qualify directly and a fifth will face the third placed team in CONCACAF. The draw occurs at 12:30 UTC at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. more...