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 32 teams in the Asian Zone are grouped as follows for the 2nd Stage:

Eight Group Winners from the 2nd Stage groups (see above) advance to the 3rd Stage.

The 3rd Stage is played as a league system (home/away) for 2 groups of 4 teams each. Two group winners and 2 group runners-up qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals. 

The 3rd place team from each group will play-off (home/away) and the winner will play-off with the 4th placed team from the North/Central American & Caribbean Zone.

Check FIFA for the most recent Asian Zone matches and results.

COUNTDOWN TO Germany 2006 for Asian Zone Teams:

February 18 to November 17, 2004 - 2nd Stage Qualification Matches played as a league system.

December 2004 - Draw for the 3rd Stage, Kuala Lumpur.

February 9 to August 17, 2005 - 3rd Stage Qualification Matches played as a league system.

September 3 & October 8, 2005 - Play-Off for 3rd Place teams in the Asian Zone.

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.