World Cup 2006 Qualifying Groups: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Draw: Oceania

Oceania still only has half a berth at the World Cup after South America successfully lobbied to overturn an earlier FIFA decision to award Oceania an automatic slot at the South Americans' expense. New Zealand was the last team from Oceania to qualify for the World Cup in 1982. Australia made their only appearance in 1974.

The winners of the Oceania qualifying competition will have to play off over two legs against the fifth-place team from South America to win a place in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany.
Australia and New Zealand received first-round byes in the draw for the first round of Oceania qualifying. The top two teams in each group advance to join Australia and New Zealand in a six-team second round.
The top two second-round teams meet in a home-and-away play-off for the right to face the fifth place South American team.

News

16 November 2005

Australia qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1974 after beating Uruguay 1-0 in Sydney with a goal from Marco Bresciano and then coming through the penalty shoot-out 4-2. The teams had finished 1-1 on aggregate after the two legs and extra time. Mark Schwarzer saved two penalties.

12 November 2005

Australia lost away to Uruguay 1-0 in the first leg of a home-and-away series. The Socceroos must win by two at home on the 16th--or they will fail to qualify again. Mark Viduka had a few opportunities up front; otherwise the Aussies looked limp. Alvaro Recabo, on the other hand, always looked dangerous.

7 September 2005

Australia defeated the Soloman Islands 2-1 in the second and last leg of the Oceania final, and now progresses to the last stage of World Cup qualifying. Australia will meet the fifth place finisher from the South American group in November.

3 September 2005

Australia crushed the Soloman Islands 7-0 at home in the first leg of of a two-game Oceania playoff.

The Solomon Islands pulled off a mighty shock in the second round of qualifying held in Australia by edging out New Zealand to earn the right to face league winners Australia in a two-leg play-off in 2005.

Second Round Final Table

First Round Draw

First Round Group 1 Table

First Round Group 2 Table

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Groups: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America

World Cup 2006
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