Asia set to boost presence at 2006 World Cup

Five World Cup places could go to Asia in Germany 2006 says the Asian Football Confederation.

The co-hosting of the 2002 finals between Japan and Korea has bosted the region's political power within world governing body FIFA and the Asian Confederation want to maintain momentum by increasing its share of the 32 places on offer for 2006.

The winners of the finals next year do not get an automatic place in Germany in a controversial move which will allow FIFA president Sepp Blatter to

"By 2006, we expect to have five Asian teams represented in Germany," AFC general secretary Peter Velappan told AFP news agency today.

"By 2006, Asia would have the teams as well as the broad infrastructure in place to justify the claim for five seats in 2006," he said.

Two years ago the AFC threatened to boycott the 2002 World Cup if FIFA did not increase their allocation from four places to five but backed down after FIFA promised to help their position.