South Africa is to host this event in 2010.

Today was the draw for the qualifying stages. Guess who England's gonna have to face (again)...?



















Yup...Croatia. Looking forward to those matches already. ::)

Your other opponents: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Andorra. With only one team advancing directly, you're gonna have a tough job, I'm afraid.


We were somewhat luckier: we'll be facing SCOTLAND, Norway, FYR Macedonia and Iceland. Yes, that's right - we're in a group of 5 (so two games less to play  :P). Nevertheless, we still have to beat Scotland and Norway.

South Africa is to host this event in 2010.

Today was the draw for the qualifying stages. Guess who England's gonna have to face (again)...?



















Yup...Croatia. Looking forward to those matches already. ::)
Not Poland then?

Not Poland then?


No, not Poland. See my updated first post for your other opponents.

I never knew there were so many countries in Europe!  :o

Rather strange that all groups contain six teams bar one (Holland & Scotland's group)...couldn't someone have declared independence and made up the numbers?

I'd still like to know how Israel classifies itself as European!

The Europe Draw:

Group 1 Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta

Group 2 Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg

Group 3 Czech Republic, Poland, NORTHERN IRELAND, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino

Group 4 Germany, Russia, Finland, WALES, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Group 5 Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia

Group 6 Croatia, ENGLAND, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra

Group 7 France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands

Group 8 Italy, Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Georgia, Montenegro

Group 9 Holland, SCOTLAND, Norway, FYR Macedonia, Iceland

We were somewhat luckier: we'll be facing SCOTLAND, Norway, FYR Macedonia and Iceland. Yes, that's right - we're in a group of 5 (so two games less to play  :P). Nevertheless, we still have to beat Scotland and Norway.


Well, I wouldn't worry about Scotland too much!

Yes, I know they've hit a purple patch at the moment (and as things stand would probably beat England's woeful bunch), but make no mistake, they'll soon slide back into their familiar hole of mediocrity by the time the qualifiers come around...

The Africa Draw:
Group 1: Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Tanzania, Mauritius.
Group 2: Guinea, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya.
Group 3: Angola, Benin, Uganda, Niger.
Group 4: Nigeria, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone.
Group 5: Ghana, Libya, Gabon, Lesotho.
Group 6: Liberia, Algeria, Senegal, Gambia.
Group 7: Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Botswana, Madagascar.
Group 8: Morocco, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Mauritania.
Group 9: Brkina Faso, Tunisia, Seychelles.
Group 10: Mali, Congo, Sudan, Chad.
Group 11: Togo, Eritrea, Zambia, Swaziland.
Group 12: Epypt, Congo DR, Malawi, iDjibouti.

Group 1 Australia, Iraq, Qatar and China.

Group 2: Oman, Thailand, Bahrain, Japan.

Group 3: North Korea, Jordan, Turkmenistan, South Korea.

Group 4: Lebanon, Singapore, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia.

Group 5: Syria, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iran.

For the West Indies (I think) area:

This draw is baffling. Group 1A: USA v the winner of Dominica v Barbados. Group 1B: Guatemala will play the winner of Turks and Caicos Islands v St Lucia. Group 1C: Trinidad and Tobago will play the winners of Bermuda v Caymen Islands. Group 1D: Cuba will play the winner of Aruba v Antigua and Barbuda.

Group 2A: Mexico play the winner of Belize v St Kitts and St Nevis. Group 2B: Jamaica play the winner of Bahamas v British Virgin Islands. Group 2C: Honduras play the winner of Dominican Republic v Puerto Rica. Group 2D: The winner of Canada v St Vincent and the Grenadines gets a bye.

Group 3A: Costa Rica plays US Virgin Islands or Grenada. Group 3B: Guyana plays Suriname or Montserrat. Group 3C: Panama plays El Salvador or Anguilla. Group 3D: The winner of Nicaragua v Netherlands Antilles gets a bye.

The Africa Draw:
Group 1: Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Tanzania, Mauritius.
Group 2: Guinea, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya.
Group 3: Angola, Benin, Uganda, Niger.
Group 4: Nigeria, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone.
Group 5: Ghana, Libya, Gabon, Lesotho.
Group 6: Liberia, Algeria, Senegal, Gambia.
Group 7: Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Botswana, Madagascar.
Group 8: Morocco, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Mauritania.
Group 9: Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Seychelles.
Group 10: Mali, Congo, Sudan, Chad.
Group 11: Togo, Eritrea, Zambia, Swaziland.
Group 12: Egypt, Congo DR, Malawi, Djibouti.


You missed a country there...Burundi.

Now you may think it odd that South Africa has to play qualifiers as well... (see Group 4)... But that's because these matches are also qualifying matches for the Africa Cup, as I understand it.

You missed a country there...Burundi.

Now you may think it odd that South Africa has to play qualifiers as well... (see Group 4)... But that's because these matches are also qualifying matches for the Africa Cup, as I understand it.
Thanks, at the time of interest the draws were reported on the sketchy side. That error of Burundi is a BBC error not mine, I made that error unknowingly.

For the West Indies (I think) area:

This draw is baffling. Group 1A: USA v the winner of Dominica v Barbados. Group 1B: Guatemala will play the winner of Turks and Caicos Islands v St Lucia. Group 1C: Trinidad and Tobago will play the winners of Bermuda v Caymen Islands. Group 1D: Cuba will play the winner of Aruba v Antigua and Barbuda.

Group 2A: Mexico play the winner of Belize v St Kitts and St Nevis. Group 2B: Jamaica play the winner of Bahamas v British Virgin Islands. Group 2C: Honduras play the winner of Dominican Republic v Puerto Rica. Group 2D: The winner of Canada v St Vincent and the Grenadines gets a bye.

Group 3A: Costa Rica plays US Virgin Islands or Grenada. Group 3B: Guyana plays Suriname or Montserrat. Group 3C: Panama plays El Salvador or Anguilla. Group 3D: The winner of Nicaragua v Netherlands Antilles gets a bye.


Baffling? Not the word I'd use...More like unfair, if you ask me. I mean, why does a team like, say Grenada, have to play at least two matches to advance, and Mexico (or U.S.A.) only one? (After the qualifying round depicted above, there's a group stage to follow, I believe)

I've always supported the idea of equality: no matter how good or bad you are, all teams go in one big bowl and then we'll have a draw to form the groups. Don't like that? Too bad, you're out! There's plenty of teams that will support the idea IMHO.
(This goes for the other Zones as well, of course)

I take that The Philippines are set up to football to a World Cup standard?

I take that The Philippines are set up to football to a World Cup standard?


I...suppose so. :-\\

I...suppose so. :-\\
...or that, Australia wished they were playing American Samoa again, for back in 2001 the score was  31 - 0 to Australia, which still stands as a world record.

...or that, Australia wished they were playing American Samoa again, for back in 2001 the score was  31 - 0 to Australia, which still stands as a world record.


Well, they certainly weren't hoping to be tied with China or Iraq, I suppose. ;D

Well, they certainly weren't hoping to be tied with China or Iraq, I suppose. ;D
No shouting at the ref in those fixtures?

...or that, Australia wished they were playing American Samoa again, for back in 2001 the score was  31 - 0 to Australia, which still stands as a world record.


Ooh...can we play 'em?  :D





Better not...we'd probably make hard work of that as well!  ::)

Ooh...can we play 'em?  :D





Better not...we'd probably make hard work of that as well!  ::)
It could be a dodgy pitch again?

How will the U.S. be in this Tournament? Will we be ranked real low or slightly low?

How will the U.S. be in this Tournament? Will we be ranked real low or slightly low?
To qualify for the Final Stages of the Football World Cup 2010, the USA in the Second Stage will play the winner the First Stage match between Dominica and Barbados.

North, Central America and Caribbean Oceania Group

http://www.dinosaur.org/Nthrland.gif 8)

http://www.dinosaur.org/Nthrland.gif 8)


You honestly think we stand a chance...? :o



...Well, there's you first karma.

no but it's nice to dream :( lol

So when does it all start?

To qualify for the Final Stages of the Football World Cup 2010, the USA in the Second Stage will play the winner the First Stage match between Dominica and Barbados.

North, Central America and Caribbean Oceania Group


Looks like an easy win for the U.S.

I really hope we can be in the Finals, because the U.S. is like Cleveland of Soccer.

So when does it all start?


The event is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. More details here.

The event is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. More details here.
At least it will not clash with The Ashes for the Auzzies are over here next year (2009)