Oceania hit as FIFA retain 32 team World Cup format

Oceania suffered a massive blow when they lost their automatic place in the 2006 World Cup finals following a FIFA executive committee meeting here.

World football's governing body also decided not to increase the number of teams from 32 to 36 until at least after the 2010 World Cup as had been demanded by the South American federations, CONMEBOL.

After FIFA's executive committee had voted overwhelmingly Saturday to give Oceania's half a slot to the South Americans the Oceania delegates showed their disapproval by staging a walk-out from the meeting.

The decision was taken with 22 votes for, one against and one abstention (by FIFA president Sepp Blatter).

Blatter, who had made getting Oceania an automatic berth one of his campaign pledges when he was running for his second term, confirmed: "The executive committee has asked Oceania to give up half a slot from its full slot received on December 17 in Madrid.

"The Oceania representatives are sad and I'm not very happy either. I know how to lose, they've got to learn that too."

He said the decision had been based on a number of factors, including New Zealand's poor performance in the Confederations Cup and administrative problems, especially in Australia.

"There is no doubt that if the distribution of slots was being discussed now Oceania wouldn't have received a full one," he said.

On the Oceania walk-out after the vote Blatter promised: "I'll do my utmost to win them back inside the FIFA family. You win some, you lose some, but you must go on.

"I remember in 1999 the Asian delegates left my first congress but they came back."

He promised to find a solution to help Oceania.

"There are several possibilities being considered," he said.

South America were thrilled with Saturday's vote.

Brazilian football federation president Ricardo Teixeira said: "It's been seven months that we've defended this idea, it's a great satisfaction to see justice done.

"New Zealand, during its participation in the Confederations Cup, has shown that Oceania still has some progress to make."

Blatter explained the need for simplicity was behind the move to keep the World Cup to 32 teams until at least the 2010 edition.

"We talked to the fans and if we increased it to 36 things would become too complicated.

"At the moment things are simple and transparent. The idea put forward by CONMEBOL was a win-win situation, two slots here, two there - but when you consider the practical details it has to be clear."

Franz Beckenbauer, president of the German World Cup's organising committee, welcomed the move to keep the World Cup to 32 teams.

"From our point of view the existing format is the best," said the German football legend.

"It's clear there's not a transparent and fair system with 36 teams," he added.