The 2006 FIFA World Cup will be held in Germany during the summer of 2006. 

The draw for FIFA World Cup Qualification took place on December 5, 2003 at the Frankfurt Festhalle, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 

The 34 teams in the North/Central American and Caribbean Zone are grouped as follows for the 1st Stage:

The 12 group winners of the 1st Stage (above) advance to the 2nd Stage.

For the 2nd Stage, the 12 teams are split into 3 groups of 4:

• Group 1: Winner Groups 1-4
• Group 2: Winner Groups 5-8
• Group 3: Winner Groups 9-12

These teams play a league system (home/away). The 3 group winners and 3 runners up qualify for the 3rd Stage.

The 3rd Stage is played as a league system (home/away) for 6 teams. The top 3 teams qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

The 4th placed team will play off with the 3rd place winner from the Asian Zone. The winner of this interzone play-off will qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

Check FIFA for the most recent North/Central American & Caribbean Zone matches and results.

COUNTDOWN TO Germany 2006 for North/Central American & Caribbean Zone Teams:

February 18 to June 20, 2004 - 1st Stage Qualification Matches played as a cup system (home/away).

August 18 to November 17, 2004 - 2nd Stage Qualification Matches played as a league system (home/away).

February 9 to October 12, 2005 - 3rd Stage Qualification Matches played as a league system (home/away).

December 9, 2005 - Draw for the FIFA World Cup finals (32 teams) in Leipzig, Germany.

June 9, 2006 - Opening World Cup 2006 match, Stadion Munchen, Munich, Germany.

July 9, 2006 - FIFA World Cup 2006: The Final, Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany.