The 55th Ordinary FIFA Congress announced the admission of Comoros and East Timor on Monday 12 September 2005. One year after New Caledonia, who joined at the Paris Congress in 2004, two new islands Comoros and East Timor now enter into the family of world football. And in terms of geography, economics, politics and the state of football in their respective countries, there are many similarities between the 206th and 207th members of FIFA.

Read the full story here, Comoros and East Timor become FIFA's newest members

Competition in the Australian A-League is heating up with several interesting results from the latest round of action. Click the links below for the match reports courtesy of the FFA.

Adelaide United vs. Melbourne Victory

Perth Glory vs. Queensland Roar

Central Coast Mariners vs. NZ Knights

Newcastle Jets vs. Sydney FC

And for all news and other stories from the A-League visit, www.a-league.com.au

Opening of first ever FIFA Congress in Africa

The 55th Ordinary FIFA Congress was opened in the Palais des Congrès, Marrakesh, today - Sunday, 11 September 2005 - with a truly spectacular ceremony. It is the first Congress to be held on the African continent in the 101-year history of FIFA.

In his opening address to those assembled for world football's supreme body in the Moroccan royal city at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter extolled Africa's contribution to football.

"Africa always used to go away empty-handed. But we hope that this Congress and the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM will serve to make up for some of the omissions of the past," declared Blatter in his opening address to an audience of approximately one thousand, including delegates, Moroccan political dignitaries, guests and reporters.

Morocco's Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, for his part, praised FIFA's crucial role, expressing the hope that the gathering in Marrakech would enable FIFA to "build on its phenomenal contribution to the development and global expansion of football, and to tackle new challenges in its second centenary."

A group of young footballers from Marrakesh welcomed FIFA symbolically by presenting the FIFA President with a mosaic. After a moving film highlighting the manifold celebrations for the FIFA Centennial in 2004, FIFA then cast its eyes forward - to Africa. The dance number by "African Footprint" mirrored the message to the Congress participants of a united future for all humankind, regardless of one's roots or religion.

The Congress will be continued on Monday, 12 September 2004. One of the items on the agenda is the prospective affiliation of Comoros and East Timor as the 206th and 207th members of FIFA respectively. Some amendments to the FIFA Statutes are also planned. Furthermore, in his key speech, the FIFA President will highlight current problems affecting global football and invite football's electoral body to comment on them.

Story courtesy FIFA Media

Intercontinental play-off schedule confirmed

The draw to determine the schedule for the playoff matches for the remaining places at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany^TM was made on Saturday at the 55th FIFA Congress in Marrakesh.

The first of the intercontinental play-offs pairs the fifth-placed nation from Asia with the team finishing fourth in the North, Central America and the Caribbean. The second play-off pairs the winner of the Oceania qualifying tournament with the nation finishing fifth in South America.

FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi made the following draw in the Salle Diamant of the Sofitel hotel in the Moroccan capital:

First leg, 12 November 2005

4th team CONCACAF v 5th team AFC

5th team CONMEBOL v 1st team Oceania (Australia)

Second leg, 16 November 2005

5th team AFC v 4th team CONCACAF

1st team Oceania (Australia) v 5th team CONMEBOL

In Asia, Uzbekistan and Bahrain will meet on 8 and 12 October to determine which nation goes forward to the intercontinental play-offs. Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic have already qualified from the Asian Zone. Uzbekistan or Bahrain will meet the team finishing fifth in the CONCACAF Zone, where Costa Rica, Guatemala and Trinidad and Tobago are in contention. The United States and Mexico are already sure of places in Germany.

After defeating the Solomon Islands twice in the final qualifying round, Australia are confirmed as Oceania representatives in the play-offs, where they will meet the fifth-placed finishers from South America. The identity of the South American contenders will not be finalised until the last matchday on 12 October. Brazil and Argentina have already qualified for next summer's finals.

The first leg of the play-offs will be played on 12 November, with the return on 16 November.

Courtesy FIFA Media

AUSTRALIA FAREWELLS OCEANIA AND SETS UP SOUTH AMERICAN DATE

Australia has won its last ever competitive match in the Oceania Football Confederation with a 2-1 win over the Solomon Islands to set up a date with an as-yet unknown opponent from South America for a place in the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006.

After their 7-0 win in the first leg in Sydney, the Socceroos faced an improved Solomon Islands side in a well-contested match at Honiara's Lawson Tama Stadium, taking the tie 9-1 on aggregate.

Australian-based Archie Thompson, of A-League club Melbourne Victory, lifted a bouncing through ball from Parma's Vince Grella over the advancing Felix Ray in the Solomons goal to give the Aussies a 1-0 advantage after 17 minutes.

But, the underdogs struck back just after half-time, much to the delight of the home crowd, when Perth Glory's Henry Fa'arodo netted from the penalty spot after being brought down by Lucas Neill of Blackburn Rovers.

Commins Menapi - suspended for the first leg - originally took the spot-kick but his effort was well saved by Aussie 'keeper Zeljko Kalac, who then saved Menapi's rebound shot. Kalac's joy was short-lived as the assistant referee indicated that Kalac had moved off his line to make the save. The Solomons captain for the day Fa'arodo successfully retook the penalty to level the scores.

However, the Solomons were reduced to 10-men for the second consecutive match after George Lui was sent off for his challenge on Kalac in the melee that followed the original penalty save.

Soon after conceding the equalizer, Blackburn Rovers' Brett Emerton scored the Socceroos winner in the 59th minute from close-range, silencing the boisterous home crowd.

Australia will now represent Oceania in a home and away playoff with the fifth ranked South American nation on November 12 and 16, 2005. The order of matches will be drawn at the 55th FIFA Ordinary Congress in Marrakech, Morocco on September 10, 2005.

MATCH STATISTICS

Australia 2 (Archie Thompson 17', Brett Emerton 59')

Solomon Islands 1 (Henry Fa'arodo 49' pen)

Australia - Zeljko Kalac, Lucas Neill, Brett Emerton, Mark Viduka (c) (Ahmad Elrich 45'), Tim Cahill (Luke Wilkshire 45'), Scott Chipperfield (Stan Lazaridis 71'), Vince Grella, Archie Thompson, Jon McKain, Jason Culina, Mark Bresciano

Cautions: Neill 48', Kalac 49', Bresciano 64', Grella 75', McKain 93'

Solomon Islands - Felix Ray Jnr., George Suri, Gideon Omokirio, Lesley Leo (Richard Anisua), Mahlon Houkarawa, Henry Fa'arodo (c), George Lui, Francis Wasi, Stanley Waita (Jack Samani), Commins Menapi, Batram Suri (Abraham Iniga)

Red Card - Lui 49'

Referee - Shamsul Maidin (Singapore)

Assistant Referee - Fathi Al Arabati (Jordan)

Assistant Referee - Eisa Ghuloum (United Arab Emirates)

Fourth Official - Santhan Nagalingam (Singapore)

Passion for football brings Walker to Honiara

Englishman Keith Walker's passion for football has brought him around the globe to Honiara for the matches between the Solomon Islands and Australia.

Walker, 66, is not new to the nation having graced the shores of the happy isles when the Solomon Islands went through its worst years in its young history.

He came in 2003 to visit the country at the time the senior national team was preparing for the South Pacific Games in Fiji.

He had wanted to see the national team play but had to leave early because of tight flight schedules.

Despite this, he did not give up and this year, he learned about the Solomon Islands playing Australia in the home and away World Cup Playoff and committed his funds to be part of the event.

Over the weekend Walker was in Sydney watching the all-Europe based Australian soccer team taking on the Solomons.

Regardless of the result, watching the Solomon Islands play gave him such satisfaction that he extended his trip to include Solomon Islands home game.

So far Walker has seen over 100 international matches and will continue to do that until he can no longer travel.

"There are 205 countries that are members of the FIFA and so far I have watched 106 international matches involving national teams of 106 countries"

He says he will be around for the next couple of days and would like to encourage all soccer loving Solomon Islanders to come out and give their national team all the support they need.

"This is definitely going to be a big thing for Solomon Islands and despite going down to Australia in the first leg, that should not discourage you," Walker added.

Oceania Football Confederation

It will take a miracle for the Solomon Islands to overturn a 0-7 scoreline, (Hiddink in seventh heaven) so we take the opportunity to see how some of the other Confederations are faring after qualifying matches from September 3 - 4, 2005.

CONEMBOL (South America)

With Argentina already qualified attention fell on Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay in this round of matches.

Holders Brazil secure place in style

Marksmen move Ecuador and Paraguay a step closer

CONCACAF (Central and North America)

Potentially four spots are open to teams from the CONCACAF Confedration with most interest surrounding 2002 qualifiers USA, Mexico and Costa Rica.

USA book passage as big three pull away

UEFA (Europe)

No European team other than the hosts had cemented a place at next years finals going into the matches, would this be the case after?

Ukraine are first through the door in Europe

CAF (Africa)

The Ivory Coast were one of the sides on the verge on qualification for the FIFA World Cup for very first time along with Angola, Togo and Ghana.

Webo the hero as Lions bite back

AFC (Asia)

With Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea all confirmed for the 2006 finals, all interest lies on who will claim fifth spot and a playoff with CONCACAF.

Uzbekistan take heart from home form

And for more news check out the official 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany website at, www.fifaworldcup.com

IDC champs Ba draw tough pool

Defending Inter District Competition soccer champion Ba has been drawn in a tough IDC pool next month.

The men in black lead pool one or the pool of death, with Battle of the Giants champion Navua, BOG finalist Rewa, Labasa and Tavua.

The host city Lautoka leads Pool 2 with neighbour Nadi, the capital city, Suva, Nadroga and Nasinu.

This year marks the 68th year of the country's pioneer soccer championships. It started in 1938. Rewa was the inaugural champion after defeating Ba in the final held in Suva.

Ba has won the competition 20 times and its finest moment was the consecutive victories from 1975-1980.

Lautoka also carved its name on the trophy as 14 time winner while Suva has won it 10 times.. Rewa, the first team to win the IDC, has won it seven times. Nadi has taken it six times, Nadroga three times, Labasa twice and Nasinu once in 1990.

Pool One

Ba

Labasa

Navua

Rewa

Tavua

Pool Two

Lautoka

Nadi

Nadroga

Nasinu

Suva

A huge weekend for football in Australia with the 1st leg of the World Cup Playoff and another full round of A-League action.

Click the links below for the match reports courtesy of the FFA

Adelaide United vs. Queensland Roar

NZ Knights vs. Sydney FC

Central Coast Mariners vs. Newcastle Jets

Melbourne Victory vs. Perth Glory

And for all news and other stories from the A-League visit, www.a-league.com.au

Mark Viduka capped his first game as captain of the Socceroos with a two-goal haul, including a spectacular overhead kick, as Australia takes a commanding 7-0 lead into the second leg of their World Cup Playoff matches against the Solomon Islands.

It was a match that Australia completely dominated from start to finish and should have won by a larger margin.

While Viduka grabbed two first half goals, Jason Culina scored his first international goal with a thunderous shot, while Tom Cahill, Scott Chipperfield, Archie Thompson and Brett Emerton also scored in the win.

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink could not remember an easier game he has been involved in, but was happy with the win none-the-less.

"That was expected, but of course we are happy to win every game," said Hiddink, when asked if he had been involved in an easier game.

"What is important is I like to see some things that we have practised for the big games coming up, to see that in the game."

"We said we would full press from the start, which we did and then we have to have a little bit of luck when the area is too crowded.

"I think we did well to not let them play and there were quality goals."

The pick of the goals was Viduka's first goal in the 36th minute, with Australia leading 1-0, when he picked up a loose ball that bounced behind him and proceeded to unleash a perfect overhead kick that gave brave Solomon's keeper Francis Aruwafu no chance.

"It was a nice one, it (the ball) bounced off Aloisi and was perfect (to hit)," said Viduka on his goal.

Not far behind Viduka's goal was the effort of FC Twente's Culina, who opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a fabulous strike from outside the area that thundered into the top corner.

With shackles broken by Australia, Viduka added a regulation header before the end of the half, for a 3-0 half time lead.

The lead could have been more, but not for the keeping of Aruwafu, who denied Viduka a hat-trick, plus Chipperfield and Culina with good saves.

It however turned into a miserable night for Aruwafu, who was directly at fault with three of Australia's four second half goals. He fumbled a Cahill header over the line in the 57th minute and then allowed long range shots from Chipperfield and Emerton to slip by him.

Thompson, who six days earlier at the very same ground, played a man-of-the-match performance for Melbourne Victory against Sydney FC, was again lively when he came on and scored a deserved his goal. His was the pick of the second half goals and showed his skill and shooting ability with a terrific strike from an acute angle.

Hiddink will take the full squad to Honiara for the second leg, although it remains to be seen, if many of the players on the park tonight will see game time.