Two Koreas drawn apart for WC qualifiers

AFC – World Cup 2002 semi-finalists Korea Republic avoided neighbours DPR Korea in the final round of Asian Qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup after the teams were drawn in separate groups for next year’s crucial qualifying competition.

In the draw held at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, Korea were drawn as the top seeds in Group A with Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, while Korea DPR were placed in Group B with Asian Cup champions Japan, Iran and Bahrain.

The first games of the Asian Qualifiers will take place on February 9 with Korea Republic taking on Kuwait, and Uzbekistan meeting Saudi Arabia in Group A.

In Group B, top seeds Japan play Korea DPR while Bahrain clash with Iran in a repeat of the third place playoff at the Asian Cup 2004.
The top two teams in each group advance directly to the World Cup 2006 finals in Germany while the two third-placed teams will meet in a playoff to decide a team to meet a CONCACAF representative for another World Cup spot.

2006 FIFA World Cup – Asian Qualifiers draw
Group A – Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait
Group B – Japan, Iran, Bahrain, Korea DPR


Match Schedule
Matchday 1 - February 9, 2005
Group A – Korea Republic v Kuwait, Uzbekistan v Saudi Arabia
Group B – Japan v Korea DPR, Bahrain v Iran

Matchday 2 - March 25, 2005
Group A – Kuwait v Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia v Korea Republic
Group B – Korea DPR v Bahrain, Iran v Japan

Matchday 3 - March 30, 2005
Group A – Kuwait v Saudi Arabia, Korea Republic v Uzbekistan
Group B – Korea DPR v Iran, Japan v Bahrain

Matchday 4 - June 3, 2005
Group A – Saudi Arabia v Kuwait, Uzbekistan v Korea Republic
Group B – Iran v Korea DPR, Bahrain v Japan

Matchday 5 - June 8, 2005
Group A – Kuwait v Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia v Uzbekistan
Group B – Korea DPR v Japan, Iran v Bahrain

Matchday 6 - August 17
Group A – Korea Republic v Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan v Kuwait
Group B – Japan v Iran, Bahrain v Korea DPR