SBS today released the likely qualification process for Oceania for 2006. Out of the 12 teams (New Caledonia are likely to be granted full Oceania membership), the top 4 will be seeded and bye. While the remaining 8 playoff. Not too sure whether the playoff is a knock-out or round-robin format. The top 2 from the playoff series join the top 4 series in the final round group of 6 in a round-robin home and away format of 10 rounds over a 12 month period. Current FIFA Rankings: New Zealand 49 Australia 50 Tahiti 113 Fiji 140 -------------------- Solomon Islands 142 Vanuatu 156 Samoa 161 Papua New Guinea 167 Tonga 175 Cook Islands 182 American Samoa 201 * New Caledonia are the 7th best side in Oceania according to ELO Ratings
looks positively daunting for Australia or New Zealand...what excitement and drama will come from this qualification process...and then a free pass to the World Cup...what could be better...