Australia and Asia

[Whythough]

Oceania has half world cup spot which I think is fair. But now Australia will go into the Asian Football Confederation. If they now qualify from this in 2010 they would have taken a spot away from an asian team whilst Oceania retains its half spot. In other words it has 1.5 spots for the world spot.

This seems to have been done for the benefit of Australia only. What were the reaction of the Asian countries. Because whilst I have heard Australia's reasons I have heard nothing of the Asian reaction. So much for balanced media.

[Forza AZ]

Oceania has half world cup spot which I think is fair. But now Australia will go into the Asian Football Confederation. If they now qualify from this in 2010 they would have taken a spot away from an asian team whilst Oceania retains its half spot. In other words it has 1.5 spots for the world spot.

This seems to have been done for the benefit of Australia only. What were the reaction of the Asian countries. Because whilst I have heard Australia's reasons I have heard nothing of the Asian reaction. So much for balanced media.
Well, the AFC accepted Australia. The wouldn't have done that if most mayor countries of the AFC were against that I think.
Maybe they hope that the AFC will get 5 full spots now (??).

[almango]

Oceania has half world cup spot which I think is fair. But now Australia will go into the Asian Football Confederation. If they now qualify from this in 2010 they would have taken a spot away from an asian team whilst Oceania retains its half spot. In other words it has 1.5 spots for the world spot.

As Australia is no longer a part of OFC it wont have 1.5 spots. Indeed, Australia is no guarantee to qualify through Asia. We have had a qualifying path through Asia in 6 World Cups in our history and only made it through once.

This seems to have been done for the benefit of Australia only. What were the reaction of the Asian countries. Because whilst I have heard Australia's reasons I have heard nothing of the Asian reaction. So much for balanced media.

I agree that we get more benefits than any other AFC country. There are some who were against the move in some parts of Asia, but the AFC heirarchy and most of the fans who post on these forums seem to have been supportive in terms of what Australia can bring to AFC. For a start we increase the depth. We instantly become a top 10 nation and will be aiming to become a top 4 nation very soon (and stay there). Most fans seem to want the extra competition and actually believe that Asia needs to improve to maintain the current World Cup allocation, and hopefully improve it in the future.

[Sagy]

We have had a qualifying path through Asia in 6 World Cups in our history and only made it through once. Ture, but might be misleading.

1966 WCQ Australia finished 2nd (losing to North Korea). If AFC had 2 out of 16 spots (about the same as 4.5 out of 32), Australia would have qualified. Considering that AFC+OFC+CAF had only two teams in the qualifiers this is not realistic, but if valid for 1970.
1970 WCQ Australia finished 2nd (losing to Israel).
1974 WCQ Australia finished as the top AFC/OFC team
1978 WCQ Australia finished 4th (behind Iran, South Korea and Kuwait), under today's model they would have qualified.
1982 WCQ Australia finished 2nd in group A (there were 4 groups) behind New Zealand. If 2 teams were to advance from each group (AFC having 4.5 spots) and considering that one spot was taken by New Zealand; there is a reasonable probability that Australia would have finished in the top 4.
1998 WCQ Australia lost to Iran on away goal for the 4th AFC spot. With 4.5 spots and Australia playing in AFC (not just having a home and away) the outcome could have been different.
Overall with the current allocation (AFC getting about 1/8 of the WC teams) Australia would probably be in their 5th WC (not 2nd).

I fully expect that from now on Australia will become a WC regular (unless the AFC allocation shrinks)

[Rubbernose]

Oceania has half world cup spot which I think is fair. But now Australia will go into the Asian Football Confederation. If they now qualify from this in 2010 they would have taken a spot away from an asian team whilst Oceania retains its half spot. In other words it has 1.5 spots for the world spot.

This seems to have been done for the benefit of Australia only. What were the reaction of the Asian countries. Because whilst I have heard Australia's reasons I have heard nothing of the Asian reaction. So much for balanced media.

Well I'm confused. What the?

If the OFC is not merged into the AFC (which it most definitely should be) the OFC will face a playoff with another Confed for a World cup spot.

I don't understand the point, or the question.

[leg_breaker]

Sounds like a load of whining to me. AFC can only benefit by having another strong country. It will improve the competitiveness of qualifiers and the Asian Cup, and will improve the champions league.

[vancity eagle]

this is a good thing. Asia needs to be more competative because at the moment it is not at all. When basically the same teams have qualified for the last 3 tournaments, you know that there is no depth in the confederation. THis will also help Australia as they will not need to play crap teams like Solomon islands. ANd i wouldn't say oceania has 1.5 spots. I don't think New Zealand is beating anybody in a playoff anytime soon.

[Beazles]

My opinion is that maybe .5 of a place should be taken from CONCACAF and given to Asia. The move of us going to Asia has given South America a 5th spot as there is no way New Zealand is going to be competetive with a Uraguay.

This move has been made for a few reasons-

1- The fact that Australia had to play a World Superpower in a one off 2 leg game to get to the world cup after practising on Minnows such as the Soloman Islands. While Teams such as the USA and Mexico just have to show up to beat teams like Canada and Honduras. I have found it very unfair the last 2 world cups with the Quality in our national team that we didnt have the chance to qualify through a group.

2- We have to play regular Football against decent sides, being in the Asian confederation gives us that.

3- Football has always been the sleeping giant in this country but the lack of any decent internationals doesnt help. After the inugral A League season some competitive internationals and the Asian Champions League will help Football at least become Australia's second biggest Football code after AFL.

[Gold is the Colour]

I think that the playoff will be between Asia and Oceania anyway, giving 5 spots for the two regions - same as now. The reason that it didn't happen that way this time is because both Concacaf and AFC knew that a game against each other would be much easier than South America or OCceania (read Australia) and Conmebol were arrogant enough to believe that they would beat anyone.

[Andy TAUS]

I think that the playoff will be between Asia and Oceania anyway, giving 5 spots for the two regions - same as now. The reason that it didn't happen that way this time is because both Concacaf and AFC knew that a game against each other would be much easier than South America or OCceania (read Australia) and Conmebol were arrogant enough to believe that they would beat anyone.Spot on, Goldie. :D

[ZeekLTK]

My opinion is that maybe .5 of a place should be taken from CONCACAF and given to Asia. The move of us going to Asia has given South America a 5th spot as there is no way New Zealand is going to be competetive with a Uraguay.

Hey why don't you beat us in the play-offs at least once before making any suggestions to move any allocations. If anything, Asia should give us their 0.5 spot, because an Asian team will never be able to beat a CONCACAF team in the play-offs.

Trinidad & Tobago 2 - 1 Bahrain, nuff said.

[Gold is the Colour]

Hey why don't you beat us in the play-offs at least once before making any suggestions to move any allocations. If anything, Asia should give us their 0.5 spot, because an Asian team will never be able to beat a CONCACAF team in the play-offs.

Trinidad & Tobago 2 - 1 Bahrain, nuff said.

Now that Australia is in Asia, the 5th place Asian team would be one of the big 5 (Japan, Iran, Sth Korea, Saudis and Australia) I'd be pretty confident of any of them beating 4th Concacaf, even Costa Rica would be 50-50 at best.

That said, I think both confeds would agree that Bahrain and T&T were both lucky to be in playoff position, with perhaps better teams behind them (definately better than Bahrain in Asia), so that match up probably isn't a true indication anyway.

[scaryice]

If there are four playoff spots next time, I fully expect AFC to play OFC. The only reason CONMEBOL played OFC last time is because they took away the full spot from OFC after already deciding on the allocation of spots. There were only two playoff teams originally, from CONCACAF and AFC, which is why those two played each other instead of the closer option. So next time it should be different.

[Davros]

).

I fully expect that from now on Australia will become a WC regular (unless the AFC allocation shrinks)
Hmmmm - OK, so while I don't have you assured confidence about this I am wondering why this is actually bad for the game? If the intent is to qualify the best nations of the world for the finals knowing that some minimal bias exists to mainatin geographic balance - this is bad why?????? If it happens that Australia start qualifying regularly will that not be because they will have beaten teams that less deserved to be there?

The issue pre the move was that Australia had no direct qualifying path - only a play off spot against some team in the world that had to get their playoff spot via a serious battle hardeining campaign. We had to turn up once every 4 years with minimal preparation and try to pull something off. Not surprisingly we failed and often.

My preferred solution would have been to disband Oceania and taken all those teams across to the Asian Federation holus bolus with the half spot allocation as well. That way the Asian confederation would have had rounded up to a 5th spot, and the play off could be between CONMEBOL and CONCACAF.

As for negative press - the proposal was put to a vote of the Asian Confederation - we didn't get forced on them. I for one am looking forward to all sorts of football involvement through Asia with WC, Asian Championships, and Team competition. It is what football in this country really needed to get out of uts rut and move forwards.

[i_hate_scams]

Oceania confederation has always been a joke, imagine the next world cup, Oceania winner (New Zealand most probably) plays 5th rank South American side... what an anti-climax...

[Bresciano23]

It's all politics.

Asia accept Australia.

Australia improves depth of competition in confederation.

Australia do well (in proportion) at major tournament.

Asia lobby FIFA for an extra spot.

Asia get extra spot because of the money and potential markets that can open up for FIFA in the region (China is obviously the one FIFA would be eyeing off)

Asia will end up running FIFA like they do the ICC.

[MRschizoid21]

Oceania should not have a .5 spot.
They should have a .25 spot.

[pepsi]

I think Oceania should just merge into the Asian confederation, and either take the .5 spot with it, or give it to another confederation (maybe South America, but it might benefit football in Africa to have it, and play off with South America)

Anyway then it could just be called the Asia-Pacific confederation

[Forza AZ]

Oceania should not have a .5 spot.
They should have a .25 spot.
The Oceania winner could enter in the final round in Asia, so you would have 7 Asian and 1 Oceanian team play for the 4,5 or 5 spots.

[Tuco]

I think Oceania should just merge into the Asian confederation, and either take the .5 spot with it, or give it to another confederation (maybe South America, but it might benefit football in Africa to have it, and play off with South America)

Anyway then it could just be called the Asia-Pacific confederation
That sounds like a good idea, but it would have to be split into East/West Conferences at the very least. Otherwise, I don't know how minnows like Vanuatu and Fiji would be able to afford traveling to Qatar and Uzbekistan. On the other hand, Tokyo-Riyadh is already a pretty long flight.