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World Cup places on agenda for FIFA Posted: Monday December 16, 2002 11:14 AM
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- The allocation of the 31 places available for the next soccer World Cup was expected to top the agenda at meetings of the world governing body FIFA this week in the Spanish capital. With six soccer confederations vying for places in the tournament to be staged in Germany in 2006, FIFA said it expected the topic to be "keenly debated". The issue was to be discussed Tuesday at an Executive Committee meeting although a decision could be left till later. FIFA said it will hold a news conference Wednesday, the final day for meetings. The Executive Committee has already decided that Germany will be the only team to qualify automatically in 2006. Brazil will be obliged to compete for one of the 31 other places following last year's decision that the reigning World Champion would in future also have to participate in the qualifying competition. The president of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Jack Warner, last week expressed his wish for a fourth place. However, the Asian Confederation wants to increase its direct places to five, following South Korea's strong showing this summer. At the World Cup this summer, Asia had four places, including the two allocated to co-hosts South Korea and Japan. A fifth Asian team, Iran, lost to a European team, Ireland, in a decider. In addition, Oceania is expected to demand its first direct place. Last time, Australia was obliged to play Uruguay in a decider and missed out. Angel Villar, president of the Spanish soccer federation, told the Spanish news agency Efe that he supported Oceania. "I believe that FIFA should show solidarity and that the sport's major event should be represented by all six confederations," he said. FIFA announced Monday that the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup had decided that the qualifying round for the tournament in Germany would begin on Feb. 28, 2004 and must be completed by November 2005. The committee also confirmed that the draw for the qualifying round would take place in Frankfurt on Dec. 5, 2003, with the draw for the finals to be held in Leipzig in December 2005. FIFA said its meetings in Madrid, which commenced Sunday with a Finance Committee round, would also choose a new General Secretary to replace Michael Zen Ruffinen. Zen Ruffinen left the organization in July after accusing FIFA president Sepp Blatter of financial mismanagement and corruption. Since then, Urs Linsi has been temporarily fulfilling the role. Blatter was re-elected at a meeting of FIFA members in Seoul in May. On Tuesday, the soccer body will bestow its award to the soccer player of the year at its annual gala. Real Madrid striker Ronaldo is favorite although teammate Zinedine Zidane and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn have also been shortlisted. The following day Madrid will play an exhibition match against a World Selection at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in honor of the club's centenary. |
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