Asia targets more World Cup places after 2006

Asia can use next year's World Cup finals to push for more places at soccer's showpiece event, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam said.

Asia will be represented in Germany by South Korea, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia, who started the qualifying process as a member of Oceania but have since joined AFC.

"We have always wanted more places for Asia but we want the teams to do the talking in Germany," Hammam told Reuters.

"If they can perform well, it may be a good time to ask FIFA for more places."

The 45-member AFC was given four and a half places for the 2006 World Cup. The final round of qualifiers featured eight teams in two groups of four, with the top two in each group gaining direct entry to the finals.

The two third-placed teams - Bahrain and Uzbekistan - played off for the right to meet CONCACAF's Trinidad and Tobago in a two-legged play-off.

Bahrain overcame Uzbekistan but the Gulf side lost to Trinidad 1-0 at home on Wednesday to bow out 2-1 on aggregate.

Hammam congratulated Australia, who defeated Uruguay 4-2 on penalties in Sydney on Wednesday after the two sides finished 1-1 on aggregate.

"Australia's win means a lot to Asia," said Hammam.

AFC's relationship with FIFA regarding World Cup places has often been frosty.

AFC delegates walked out of a FIFA Extraordinary Congress in Los Angeles in 1999 in protest at the world governing body's refusal to give Asia five guaranteed places for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

South Korea reached the semi-finals of that tournament, Asia's best performance in World Cup history.