On January 1, 2006, Australia withdrew from the Oceania Football Confederation and joined the Asian Football Confederation? Any thoughts?
2006-09-15 13:30:06 · 6 answers · asked by Reggaeton Ambassador 5 in Sports ➔ Football ➔ FIFA World Cup (TM)
http://www.china.org.cn/english/sports/123685.htm
2006-09-15 13:31:08 · update #1
AUSTRALIA joined the Asian Football Confederations (AFC) in January 2006 because it gives them a much easier chance of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals. even the official from the AFC welcomes the newest member to join in the family.
as Asia got 4 places in the World Cup finals at the moment, AUSTRALIA has much better chance in Asia rather than in the Oceania as the winners of the Oceania section have to play usually against the South American teams which is far more stronger opposition to get to the World Cup.
further more, the Oceania section is the weakest among the 6 confederations & they currently do not have an automatic spot in the World Cup finals. previously the FIFA president, Sepp Blatter has given Oceania an automatic spot in the World Cup but his decision was later reversed & that has angered many fans particularly AUSTRALIA fans.
anyway, AUSTRALIA's next appearance in the major international tournament will be the 2007 AFC Asian Cup finals as they have booked their place in the finals. the 2007 AFC Asian Cup is jointly hosted by 4 countries: Malaysia, Thaliand, Indonesia & Vietnam from 07 July 2007 to 29 July 2007.
2006-09-15 14:25:53 · answer #1 · answered by foongwk140804 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think Australia's better than the other teams at the OFC and AFC, so maybe they deserve to join the AFC group. It will be a lot easier for the Socceroos to qualify for the next World Cup, because the winner of the OFC has to face a tough South American team that reached the 5th place in order to qualify for the World Cup. The Socceroos didn't go to the World Cup in such a long time and they also deserve to qualify for this year's World Cup
2006-09-16 05:48:00 · answer #2 · answered by Captain Cottontail 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wasn't this fifa's decision? i don't think "deserve" is the right word. it's all part of the rezoning process since the number of teams in the world cup finals increased. they shouldn't complain though, they still made it through for Germany 2006.
2006-09-15 14:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Deserve is pretty subjective.
Why would they withdraw from OFC?
2006-09-15 14:06:37 · answer #4 · answered by grognd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree with foongwk140804
2006-09-15 19:57:35 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-09-15 13:35:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋