FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying group
Everyone understands the power held by FIFA. Ever since they move Australia from Oceania to Asia (no small feat for a sporting body to move a cotenant) the footballing landscape of Asia has changed. Predictably Australia has qualified top of their table, the mighty soccaroos have displayed some quality football. After knocking Italy out of the last tournament people will be looking at the team from down under in a new light this time around. South Korea has topped the other table in Asia with a mixed bag of results but a satisfying win over their closest neighbour North Korea. South Korea also having a pedigree of knocking out big nations in the work cup is fielding a team of players that are all based off shore in leagues around the world.
Now in round four both Group A and Group B’s teams are in the middle of vying to win a World Cup spot for With three games remaining Australia look more or less certain of a place as they top Group A with thirteen points, with Japan also looking likely as they lie in second place on eleven points, with Bahrain in third place on seven points having played six games, whilst Uzbekistan and Qatar are currently on four points with just two games remaining.
Group B looks a lot more tighter as South Korea lead the table with eleven points, with North Korea on ten although their neighbours do have a game in hand. Saudi Arabia are currently in third and have more than a good chance of nicking a automatic qualification spot as they are also on ten points. Iran are in fourth with six points but with three games remaining would have to rely on a lot of slips to qualify while the UAE will only be watching the World Cup as they can’t qualify having only obtained one point. Qualification is for the teams that finish first and second in both Group A and B whilst the two third place teams will play each other to meet New Zealand who won the Oceania Group for a spot at South Africa.
Groups and Standings |
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| Group 1 | |||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Australia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Japan | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| Bahrain | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Uzbekistan | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Qatar | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 4 |
| Group 2 | |||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| Korea Republic | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 11 |
| Korea DPR | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 10 |
| Saudi Arabia | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 10 |
| Iran | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| United Arab Emirates | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 1 |
FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying groups
European qualifying group
South American qualifying group
African qualifying group
Asian qualifying group
North, Central America and Caribbean qualifying group