Football World Cup 2006
The
2006 Football World Cup is scheduled to take place in
Germany, after a tense vote. It was widely expected that the tournament would take place in Africa, probably
South Africa, but various backroom politics delivered hosting the Cup to Germany.
The draw for five of the six qualification tournaments took place on 5 December 2003 in Frankfurt, whilst all of the members of the South American federation (CONMEBOL) will compete in a single group. Qualification itself will begin in January 2004.
There has been some interest in the allocation of places in the finals to the various football confederations. Initially, the Oceania Football Confederation was allocated one place in the finals. With the confederation containing only Australia, New Zealand, and a number of tiny island nations, Australia was widely regarded as having been gifted virtual automatic qualification. South America's confederation, by contrast, was allocated only 4 places, down from 4.5 (4 guaranteed and one playoff spot against the Oceania regional qualifier) last time, despite the onfield strength of South American football. North America gained an extra half a place, whilst Europe lost half a place. The defending champion (Brazil) does not qualify automatically, but hosts Germany retained the automatic spot. In June 2003 the FIFA board reversed its decision and reduced Oceania's allotment to half a place and gave back South America's half spot.
Qualification Groups
European Zone
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 |
|---|
| 1. Czech Republic |
1. Turkey |
1. Portugal |
1. France |
| 2. Netherlands |
2. Denmark |
2. Russia |
2. Republic of
Ireland |
| 3. Romania |
3. Greece |
3. Slovakia |
3. Switzerland |
| 4. Finland |
4. Ukraine |
4. Latvia |
4. Israel |
| 5. FYR Macedonia |
5. Georgia |
5. Estonia |
5. Cyprus |
| 6. Armenia |
6. Albania |
6. Liechtenstein |
6. Faroe Islands |
| 7. Andorra |
7. Kazakhstan |
7. Luxembourg |
|
| Group 5 | Group 6 | Group 7 | Group 8 |
| 1. Italy |
1. England |
1. Spain |
1. Sweden |
| 2. Slovenia |
2. Poland |
2. Belgium |
2. Croatia |
| 3. Scotland |
3. Austria |
3. Serbia and
Montenegro |
3. Bulgaria |
| 4. Norway |
4. Wales |
4. Bosnia-Herzegovina |
4. Iceland |
| 5. Belarus |
5. Northern
Ireland |
5. Lithuania |
5. Hungary |
| 6. Moldavia |
6. Azerbaijan |
6. San Marino |
6. Malta |
Played as a league system on a home-and-away basis, 3 groups of 7, and 5 groups of 6 teams. The 8 group winners and the two best runners-up qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals, the remaining 6 runners-up will be drawn against each other for 3 play-off matches on a home-and-away basis to determine the other 3 qualifiers.
South American Zone
This zone is played as a league system on a home-and-away basis involving all 10 teams in a tournament which began in September 2003. The top 4 teams qualify automatically for the 2006 World Cup Finals, the fifth placed team will play-off against the winner of the Oceania zone.
African Zone
First stage
The first stage was played as a cup system on a home-and-away basis in October and November 2003, involving 42 teams. The 21 winners advanced to the second stage.
Second stage
The second stage will be played as a league system on a home-and-away basis in 5 groups of 6 teams. The 5 group winners qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 |
|---|
| 1. Senegal |
1. South Africa |
1. Cameroon |
1. Nigeria |
1. Tunisia |
| 2. Mali |
2. Congo DR |
2. Egypt |
2. Zimbabwe |
2. Morocco |
| 3. Zambia |
3. Burkina Faso |
3. Côte d'Ivoire |
3. Algeria |
3. Kenya |
| 4. Togo |
4. Ghana |
4. Libya |
4. Angola |
4. Guinea |
| 5. Liberia |
5. Uganda |
5. Sudan |
5. Gabon |
5. Malawi |
| 6. Congo |
6. Cabo Verde |
6. Benin |
6. Rwanda |
6. Botswana |
Oceanian Zone
First stage
The first stage will be played as a league system involving 2 groups of 5 teams in 2 tournaments held at 2 different venues. The winner and runner-up of each group advance to the second stage.
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
|---|
| 1. Tahiti |
1. Fiji |
| 2. Solomon Islands |
2. Vanuatu |
| 3. New Caledonia |
3. Papua New Guinea |
| 4. Tonga |
4. Samoa |
| 5. Cook Islands |
5. American Samoa |
Second stage
The second stage will be played as a league system involving 1 group of 6 teams (the winners and runners-up of the first stage groups, plus Australia and New Zealand) in one tournament taking place at 1 venue. The winner and runner-up advance to the third stage.
Third stage
The two teams will play-off on a home-and-away basis, and the winner will then play-off against the fifth placed team from South America for a place in the 2006 World Cup Finals.
Asian Zone
First stage
The first stage was played in late November/early December 2003 as a cup system on a home-and-away basis involving the 14 lowest-ranked teams. The seven winners advanced to the second stage.
Second stage
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 |
|---|
| 1. Iran |
1. Uzbekistan |
1. Japan |
1. PR China |
| 2. Qatar |
2. Iraq |
2. Oman |
2. Kuwait |
| 3. Jordan |
3. Palestine |
3. India |
3. Malaysia |
| 4. Laos |
4. Chinese Taipei |
4. Singapore |
4. Hong Kong |
| Group 5 | Group 6 | Group 7 | Group 8 |
| 1. United Arab Emirates |
1. Bahrain |
1. South Korea |
1. Saudi Arabia |
| 2. Thailand |
2. Syria |
2. Lebanon |
2. Indonesia |
| 3. Yemen |
3. Kyrgyzstan |
3. Vietnam |
3. Turkmenistan |
| 4. North Korea |
4. Tajikistan |
4. Maldives |
4. Sri Lanka |
Played as a league system on a home-and-away basis, 8 groups of 4 teams. The 8 group winners advance to the third stage.
Third stage
Played on a league system on a home-and-away basis in 2 groups of 4 teams. The two group winners and two runners-up qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals. The third-placed teams from each group will play each other on a home-and-away basis, with the winner of this play-off playing off against the 4th-placed team from the North, Central American and Caribbean Zone for the last place in the finals..
North, Central American and Caribbean Zone
First stage
This is played as a cup system on a home-and-away basis involving 10 groups of 3 teams and 2 groups of 2 teams. The 12 group winners advance to the second stage.
- Group 1
- Grenada vs Guyana
- Winner plays United States.
- Group 2
- Bermuda vs Montserrat
- Winner plays El Salvador.
- Group 3
- Haiti vs Turks and Caicos Islands
- Group 4
- British Virgin Islands vs St Lucia
- Group 5
- Group 6
- Group 7
- Antigua and Barbuda vs Netherlands Antilles
- Group 8
- Group 9
- Group 10
- US Virgin Islands vs St Kitts and Nevis
- Group 11
- Dominican Republic vs Anguilla
- Winner plays Trinidad and Tobago.
- Group 12
- Nicaragua vs St Vincent and the Grenadines
Second stage
The second stage will be played as a league system on a home-and-away basis involving 3 groups of 4 teams. The three group winners and the three runners-up qualify for the third stage.
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 |
|---|
| 1. Winner Group 1 |
1. Winner Group 5 |
1. Winner Group 9 |
| 2. Winner Group 2 |
2. Winner Group 6 |
2. Winner Group 10 |
| 3. Winner Group 3 |
3. Winner Group 7 |
3. Winner Group 11 |
| 4. Winner Group 4 |
4. Winner Group 8 |
4. Winner Group 12 |
Third stage
This will be played on a league system on a home-and-away basis involving 6 teams. The top 3 teams qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals, the 4th team plays-off against the representative from the Asian Zone.
See also:
Football World Cup
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