The format and draw for the Asian
qualifying groups for the 2006 World Cup:
Eight groups of four teams
Winners advance
Top two teams in each four-team third-round group qualify
Top two teams qualify
Third-place teams meet in home-and-home play-off
Playoff winner advances to playoff against South America,
CONCACAF and Oceania
Group 1
Iran
Qatar
Jordan
Laos
Group 2
Uzbekistan
Iraq
Palestine
Chinese Taipei
Group 3
Japan
Oman
India
Singapore
Group 4
China
Kuwait
Malaysia
Hong Kong
Group 5
UAE
Thailand
Yemen
North Korea
Group 6
Bahrain
Syria
Kyrgyztan
Tajikistan
Group 7
South Korea
Lebanon
Vietnam
Maldives
Group 8
Saudi Arabia
Indonesia
Turkmenistan
Sri Lanka
