First five set for World Cup qualification

The first five qualifiers for next year's World Cup finals in Germany could be known today, a year and a day before the competition begins.

Reigning world champions Brazil or former champions Argentina as well as 2002 co-hosts South Korea and Japan and fellow Asians Iran and Saudi Arabia could all make mathematically certain of their places in the finals with either victories or the right combination of other results.

Although no European country can clinch their place in next summer's 32-team jamboree in Germany today, Ukraine will move to within, at most, a victory of their first ever finals if they beat European champions Greece in Athens.

So far the only country certain of being included in the draw for the finals in Leipzig on December 9 is the host nation, but that situation is about to change.

Brazil, the first world champions who had to qualify for the next finals following a change of policy by FIFA in 2001, will maintain their unique record of taking part in every World Cup when they qualify for what will be their 18th finals in Germany.

That could be as early as tonight if they beat Argentina in Buenos Aires in the top-of-the-table clash of the 10-team South American group.

Both are virtually assured of a place in the finals by finishing in the top four of the group and if one or the other do not seal a place this week, they are likely to do so in September when qualifiers re-start after the summer break.

After Saturday's marathon round of qualifiers, another 25 matches are being played around the world today and four of five possible Asian qualifiers could be known.

Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan should all seal their places, but South Korea's trip to Kuwait may provide an upset.

Iran have been the strongest side in Asian qualifying and need only to draw at home to Bahrain to be sure of reaching the World Cup for the third time.

Saudi Arabia will advance to their fourth straight finals with a win over Uzbekistan in Riyadh while Japan will advance if they draw with or beat North Korea in a match being played behind closed doors in Bangkok because of previous crowd trouble in Pyongyang.

South Korea's record of having qualified for every World Cup since 1986 could be in jeopardy if they lose to Kuwait following last week's 1-1 draw in Uzbekistan, but a win will see them through.

A fifth Asian team could qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany via a playoff with a CONCACAF team.

Ukraine target

In Europe, the spotlight falls on Athens where Greece will be looking to maintain their improvement against in-form Ukraine.

Victory for the European champions will lift them to within two points of Ukraine, but if Andriy Shevchenko and his team-mates come through they will virtually be assured of a place in the finals.

If Ukraine win - and Turkey beat Kazakhstan as expected - Ukraine would be seven points clear at the top and need just one win from their last three matches to clinch the group.

If Ukraine win and Turkey lose, Ukraine would need just one point to make sure after missing out on two previous World Cups and a European Championship after playoff defeats.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic should continue their two-horse race in Group One with wins over Finland and Macedonia respectively, while Ireland should become the third leader of the tightly-bunched Group Four in less than a week by winning in the Faroe Islands.

The CONCACAF final group continues with leaders Mexico at home to Trinidad & Tobago and second-placed United States away to Panama.

The big two of the region look set to advance comfortably but there is a real battle for the third automatic spot with Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Costa Rica all on four points approaching the half-way stage.

The next round of matches in the African zone are being played next week.