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 GermanyTM 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