AFC have announced today the format of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. It will be the same format used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Because the first round takes place in June 2011 - before the official FIFA draw, I think AFC will seed the teams based on their 2010 FIFA World Cup performance. The order of the first four teams is: Japan, Korea Republic, Australia, Korea DPR.
MATCH DAYS
Round 1
MD1: June 29, 2011
MD2: July 3, 2011
Round 2
MD1: July 23, 2011
MD2: July 28, 2011
Round 3
MD1: September 2, 2011
MD2: September 6, 2011
MD3: October 11, 2011
MD4: November 11, 2011
MD5: November 15, 2011
MD6: February 29, 2012
Round 4
MD1: June 3, 2012
MD2: June 8, 2012
MD3: June 12, 2012
MD4: September 11, 2012
MD5: October 16, 2012
MD6: November 14, 2012
MD7: March 26, 2013
MD8: June 4, 2013
MD9: June 11, 2013
MD10: June 18, 2013
Round 5
MD1: September 6, 2013
MD2: September 10, 2013
Round 6
MD1: October 15, 2013
MD2: November 19, 2013
Perhaps AFC's timing so that the draw for the 3rd Round is at FIFA's big Preliminary Draw, or perhaps because they like doing things themselves - at their own pace - and not run by big brother.
ReplyDeleteThanks. But did FIFA already announce the allocation of teams per continent?
ReplyDeleteSorry but what exactly is the 2014 Fifa World Cup preliminary draw?
ReplyDeleteNo they haven't announced the allocation of teams per continent yet though I'm guessing it will be the same as last time.
ReplyDeleteYeah for the 2010 qualification seedings they used the performance of teams at the 2006 WC followed by their ranking in the qualification for 06'. Should be the same.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm not sure what the 2014 Fifa World Cup preliminary draw is I thought that FIFA stated that no qualifiers would be played before it i.e. late July-early August yet here there are 2 rounds of qualifiers to take place before the said period. Strange.
ReplyDelete