[photar74]

Considering the proliferation of misinformation both on this board and in the media at large, I feel it is important to post this thread to show, once and for all, that there is no extra space for the WC in 2006, even without a space for the holders.

Most people seem to believe that due to the lack of a space for the holders that there is an extra space for allocation. However, that is just not true, primarily because AFC views the two host spaces from 2002 as its allocations, not as host allocations.

Right now, each confederation believes it would hold even in 2006 if it received the following allocations:

UEFA: 13.5 + Germany
CAF: 5.0
AFC: 4.5
CONMEBOL: 4.5
CONCACAF: 3.0
OFC: 0.5

That totals 31.0 plus Germany.

The point of this thread is to show that, despite recent press releases from FIFA, OFC, AFC and CONCACAF, in order for any confederation to increase its allocations, it will have to cut into the existing allocations of at least one confederation. It is not simply a matter of who gets the extra 1.0 space without hurting anyone else. In 2006, increased allocations for one confederation will mean decreased allocations for another.

Being aware of this should allow us to all hold a more informed and accurate discussion of possible 2006 allocations.

[MassachusettsRef]

But AFC had 3.5 in 1998. AFC can "view the two host spaces from 2002" as their own slots all it wants, but until FIFA decides that's true, it's speculation.

In theory, if you revert back to 1998 procedures, one of the host slots goes back to AFC and one of them is split between UEFA & CONMEBOL.

However, that's unlikely to happen. One slot will definitely go to AFC (for 3.5 again), but the other slot is, for all intents and purposes, an "extra" slot right now.

It's just me, but a legitimate option appears to be splitting the final slot between AFC and CONCACAF. That way, AFC gets 4.0 slots, and CONCACAF gets 3.5. The 4th place CONCACAF team could play off with the 14th play UEFA team, while the 5th place CONMEBOL team could play off with the OFC winners. CAF would stay at 5.0 slots.