BrainC, I have just read the article too and I think this is plain stupid. Not only will it be bad enough that OFC will get an auto berth into the World Cup, but now they want to increase the amount of matches to make it even more inconvenient for the players of Australia especially as they will have to travel more and there would be disputes with their club managers. Also, I really hope that they have a preliminary stage in qualifying that will eliminate the really bad teams in the region leaving teams that won't be that bad so we won't see 31-0 or 22-0 routs. If they do give OFC a spot (which is very likely), expect to see the Aussies in Germany in 2006. It will be interesting to see how they will do.
I don't like the increase in home and away games within the oceania group either but I guess it does give the smaller nations a few extra games and a sniff at an upset. It looks like australia could actually start playing a few games with it's first team. Soccer Australia has announced that it is negotiating with 6 nations ranked inside the top 32 to play inside the next 9 months in europe. They also want to bring Japan and Sth Korea to Australia in June/July for a three team tournament. Other rumours include a two game series with england. I will beleive that one when I see it.