Germany2006: Africa retains its 5 places

The executive committee of football's world governing body FIFA confirmed what had been widely expected, that five-times champions and 2002 winners Brazil would have to go through the qualifying competition. Breakdown of allocation by region for 2006 World Cup in Germany following meeting of FIFA executive committee here Tuesday: Europe: 14 (including hosts Germany)

Africa: 5

Concacaf: 3

Oceania: 1

Asia: 4

Conmebol: 4 (South & Central America)

Fourth-placed Concacaf country will play fifth-placed Asian country to decide 32nd and final spot

Qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany will officially begin on February 28 2004 and finish by November 20 2005 including play-offs, FIFA announced on Monday. The sport's world governing body's organizing committee for the 2006 World Cup, meeting in the Spanish capital, also rubberstamped two important dates. December 5 2003 is the date for the qualifying draw in Frankfurt and Leipzig will host the draw for the finals in December 2005. The committee also formally approved the 12 host cities which had originally been named in Frankfurt on April 15 2002.