2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC Fourth Round

The AFC Fourth Round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...

was decided by a random draw conducted in Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

, Malaysia on 27 June 2008. The round commenced on 6 September 2008, and finished on 17 June 2009.

The top two countries in each group at the end of the stage qualified directly to the World Cup Finals

2010 FIFA World Cup

The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...

in South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

, with the two third-placed countries advancing to the AFC play-off.

Format

The 10 teams (2 teams from each group in the third round

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC Third Round

The AFC Third Round of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification was decided by a random draw which was conducted in Durban, South Africa on 25 November 2007...

) were divided into four pots for the draw, three containing two teams and one containing four. The seeding for the fourth round was based on that used in the third round draw, but Saudi Arabia and Japan (seeded equal 4th in that draw) were separated by a random selection held at the start of the fourth round draw. The pots were as follows:

Pot 1	Pot 2	Pot 3	Pot 4

The 10 teams were split into two groups of five teams each - each containing one team from each of Pots 1, 2 and 3, as well as 2 teams from Pot 4.

The top two teams in each group qualified for the World Cup Finals, with the two third-placed sides advancing to a playoff. All teams played home and away against each of the other four teams in the group.

Group A

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Group B

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Several Iranian players started the match wearing green armband

Armband

An armband is a piece of material worn around the arm over the sleeve of other clothing if present. they may be worn for pure ornamentation to mark the wearer as belonging to group, having a certain rank or role, or being in a particular state or condition...

s or wristband

Wristband

Wristbands are encircling strips worn on the wrist, made from a variety of materials depending on the purpose. The term can be used to refer to the bracelet-like band of a wristwatch, to the cuff or other part of a sleeve that covers the wrist, or to decorative or functional bands worn on the wrist...

s, a symbol of protest at the outcome of the Iranian presidential election

2009 Iranian election protests

Protests following the 2009 Iranian presidential election against the disputed victory of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi occurred in major cities in Iran and around the world starting June 13, 2009...

. Most removed them at half-time. The newspaper Iran reported that Ali Karimi

Ali Karimi

Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki better known as Ali Karimi, is an Iranian professional footballer who is currently playing for Persepolis in Iran Pro League. He was awarded the Asian Footballer of the Year in 2004....

, Mehdi Mahdavikia

Mehdi Mahdavikia

Mehdi Mahdavikia is an Iranian football player who plays for Damash Gilan in the Iranian Pro League. He has won Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 1997, as well as Asian Footballer of the Year in 2003. He was the captain of the Iran national football team from 2006 to 2009, and currently...

, Hosein Kaebi, and Vahid Hashemian

Vahid Hashemian

Vahid Hashemian is an Iranian Footballer who currently plays for Persepolis in Iran Pro League.-Club career:Vahid started his professional football career with Pas Tehran in his homeland. He arrived in Germany for the 1999–2000 season to play for Hamburger SV...

had received life bans from the Iranian FA for the gesture. However, the Iranian FA denied this claim in a response to FIFA

FIFA

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...

's inquiry saying that "the comments in foreign media are nothing but lies and a mischievous act." The Iran national team

Iran national football team

The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...

head coach Afshin Ghotbi

Afshin Ghotbi

Afshin Ghotbi is an Iranian-American football coach and current head coach of the Japanese side Shimizu S-Pulse in J-League.-Early life:Though his family were from Shiraz, Mr. Afshin Ghotbi was born in the country's capital Tehran...

also confirmed that it was a rumour and Iranian FA "has not taken any official stand on this issue."

Goalscorers

As of 17 June, there have been 81 goals scored in 40 games, for an average of 2.03 goals per game.
3 goals
Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill

Timothy Filiga "Tim" Cahill is an football player of Australian nationality who plays for Everton and the Australian national football team...

Javad Nekounam

Javad Nekounam is an Iranian footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.Usually playing as a central midfielder, he is known for his passing ability, defensive acumen, ball distribution and powerful long-range shots. He represented his national team over 120 times.-Early years / UAE:Having...

Lee Keun-Ho

Lee Keun-ho is a South Korean football player who currently plays for Japanese club Gamba Osaka in the J. League Division 1.-Personal life:...

Park Ji-Sung

Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...

Farhod Tadjiyev

Farhod Tojiyev is a Uzbekistani footballer currently playing for FC Pakhtakor Tashkent. His name means 'happiness' in Persian...

2 goals
Brett Emerton

Brett Emerton

Brett Michael Emerton is an Australian football player who plays for Sydney FC and the Australia national team...

Joshua Kennedy

Joshua Blake Kennedy is an Australian professional football player who plays as a striker for the Australia national association football team and Nagoya Grampus.- Club career :...

Shunsuke Nakamura

is a Japanese footballer who currently plays for Yokohama F. Marinos in J. League Division 1. He is one of the most prominent and successful Asian players to have played in Scotland and on 13 September 2006 became the first Japanese player to score in the UEFA Champions League and the second Asian...

Keiji Tamada

is a Japanese football player, who currently plays for the J. League team Nagoya Grampus.-Club career:Tamada entered Kashiwa Reysol from the Narashino High School in 1999. He accomplished the debut by the game against Avispa Fukuoka on March 13, 1999. He experiences the acquisition of the title of...

Marcus Tulio Tanaka

, formerly name ; Marcus Túlio Lyuji Murzani Tanaka is a Brazilian-born Japanese footballer who plays for the J. League Division 1 club Nagoya Grampus.-Career:...

Mun In-Guk

Mun In-Guk is a North Korean international football player.Mun has made 22 appearances for the Korea DPR national football team in FIFA World Cup qualifying rounds.- Goals for senior national team :...

Ki Sung-Yong

Ki Sung-Yeung , also known as Ki Sung-Yong, is a South Korean professional footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Scottish Premier League club Celtic and the South Korea national team....

Park Chu-Young

Park Chu-Young is a South Korean footballer who plays for Arsenal in the Premier League and is the current captain for the South Korea national team.-Youth career:...

Naif Hazazi

Naif Hazazi , is a Saudi Arabian footballer, currently playing for the Jeddah-based Al-Ittihad club. He plays as a centre forward....

Abdoh Otaif

Abdoh Ibrahim Otaif is a football player who plays for Al-Shabab in Riyadh, in the Saudi Premier League. He also plays for the Saudi Arabia national team, and was called up for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Singapore and Uzbekistan.-His beginning with Al-Shabab:Abdoh Otaif began his career...

Masoud Shojaei

Masoud Soleimani Shojaei , sometimes known as just Masoud, is an Iranian footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.Mainly an attacking midfielder who can also play as a forward, he is also an Iranian international.-Club career:...

Mahmood Abdulrahman

Mahmood Abdulrahman , also known as Ringo, is a Bahraini footballer. He currently plays for Al Shamal Sports Club as well as the Bahrain national football team. He was named Player of the tournament when AlMuharraq won the 2008 AFC Cup...

1 goal
Mark Bresciano

Mark Bresciano

Mark "Marco" Bresciano is an Australian football player who is currently playing for UAE Pro-League side Al Nasr SC as a midfielder. He represented Australia at all youth levels, including appearances at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and 2000 Olympic Games...

David Carney

David Raymond Carney is an Australian football player who plays left winger for Spanish club AD Alcorcón and as a left-back or left winger for the Australian national team.- Junior career :...

Scott Chipperfield

Scott Kenneth Chipperfield is an Australian international football player who currently plays as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League.-Personal life:...

Harry Kewell

Harold "Harry" Kewell is an Australian professional football midfielder who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. Internationally he has received 55 caps, and scored 16 goals, while playing for the Australian national team...

Mile Sterjovski

Mile Sterjovski is an Australian football player, who currently plays for Perth Glory and played for the Australian national team from 2000 to 2010, before he retired from international football after his non-selection for the 2010 FIFA World Cup...

Faouzi Mubarak Aaish

Faouzi Mubarak Aaish is a Moroccan-Bahraini footballer who is a midfielder for the Emirati club Dubai Club. Aaish has made several appearances for the Bahrain national football team, including 14 qualifying matches for the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup...

Abdulla Baba Fatadi

Abdulla Baba Fatadi is a Nigerian footballer who is a midfielder for Al Jahra. His birth name is Babatunde Fatai. He played for Nigeria under 17 national team in U17 world championship before moving to Bahrain in 2004. He later took on Bahraini nationality to represent the Bahrain national...

Salman Isa Karim Bagheri

Karim Bagheri

Karim Bagheri is a retired professional Iranian player, most notably playing for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League. He was known as a two-footed midfielder and is famous for his powerful and thundering long range shots and free kicks.-Early years:...

Ali Karimi

Mehdi Mahdavikia

Yasuhito Endō

Yasuhito Endo

is a Japanese footballer, who currently plays for the J. League team Gamba Osaka. His older brother Akihiro, who retired in 2008, was also a professional footballer.-Career:...

Kengo Nakamura

is a Japanese football midfielder who currently plays for Kawasaki Frontale of the J. League.-Playing style:K.Nakamura is a playmaking midfielder usually employed by Kawasaki Frontale on the central midfield. His view can supply pass very widely over the wide range.Besides passing, Nakamura is...

Shinji Okazaki

Shinji Okazaki is a Japanese football player currently playing for VfB Stuttgart of the German Bundesliga.-Career:...

Tatsuya Tanaka An Chol-Hyok

An Chol-Hyok

An Chol-Hyok is a North Korean international football player. He plays for Rimyongsu Sports Group.An has made three appearances for the Korea DPR national football team in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches....

Choe Kum-Chol

Choe Kum-Chol is a North Korean international football player.Choe has made eight appearances for the Korea DPR national football team in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches....

Hong Yong-Jo

Hong Yong-Jo is a North Korean international football player. He last played for FC Rostov in Russia. He previously played for April 25 FC in the North Korean 1st division and FK Bežanija in the Serbian SuperLiga....

Jong Tae-Se Pak Nam-Chol

Pak Nam-Chol

Pak Nam-Chol may refer to:* Pak Nam-Chol , North Korea midfielder, currently playing for April 25* Pak Nam-Chol , North Korea defender, currently playing for Amrokgang* Pak Nam-Chol...

Kim Chi-Woo

Kim Chi-Woo is a South Korean football player who currently plays for Sangju Sangmu Phoenix in K-League.-Club career:...

Kwak Tae-Hwi

Kwak Tae-Hwi , is a South Korean football Centre back who currently plays for Ulsan Hyundai and South Korea national football team.-International goals:-External links:* at KFA.or.kr* at FIFA.com...

Ali Afif

Ali Afif is a Qatari footballer. He currently plays as a striker for Al Sadd. He is a member of the Qatar national football team.-International goals:- External links :...

Talal Al-Bloushi

Talal Al-Bloushi is a Qatari footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for Al Sadd.Al-Bloushi is also a member of the Qatar national football team.-International goals:-External links:**...

Magid Mohamed

Magid Mohamed is a Qatari footballer of Sudanese origin. He is a striker for Al Sadd. He has long played for Al Sadd and has been regularly called up for the Qatar national football team.-Goals for Senior National Team:...

Majdi Siddiq

Majdi Siddiq is a Qatari of Sudanese descent footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for Al Arabi. He is a member of the Qatar national football team.-Goals for Senior National Team:- External links :*...

Sebastián Soria

Andrés Sebastián Soria Quintana , is a naturalized Qatari footballer who plays as a striker for Qatar SC.-Early career:Soria originally had a 2-week trial at Uruguayan club Defensor Sporting in Montevideo as a youngster, however they subsequently rejected Soria, and he returned home.Soria continued...

Ahmed Al-Fraidi

Ahmed Al-Fraidi is a Saudi football player.At the age of 17 he joined the Riyadh based club Al-Hilal, where he plays as number 8 on a midfielder position....

Saad Al-Harthi

Saad Mish'al Al-Harthi - also transliterated Sa'ad Al-Harthi - is a Saudi Arabian football striker who plays for Saudi Premiership side Al-Nasr. While he is a regular first team member at his club, he has to battle for a spot on the Saudi Arabia national football team. Recently he was chosen as...

Osama Al-Muwallad

Osama Al-Muwallad is a Saudi Arabian football player who currently plays as a defender for Al Ittihad. He is also known as Osama Al-Harbi...

Ismail Al Hammadi

Ismail Al Hammadi is a footballer from the United Arab Emirates . He currently plays for Al-Ahli Football Club - Dubai.-International goals:-External links:*...

Mohammed Al Shehhi Abdulrahim Jumaa

Abdulrahim Jumaa

Abdulrahim Anbar Jumaa is a United Arab Emirates footballer who plays for Al Jazira Club. Playing in the midfield, Jumaa is one of the most important players for both his club and country. Abdulrahim is a skilled passer and has dribbling skills...

Subait Khater

Subait Khater Fayel Khamis Al-Mekhaini is a United Arab Emirati footballer who is a midfielder for Al Jazira. He was a member of the United Arab Emirates national football team.-Club:...

Ismail Matar

Ismail Matar Ibrahim Khamis Al Mukhaini Al Junaibi , is an Emirati footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or forward for Al Wahda and the UAE national team....

Bashir Saeed

Bashir Saeed is a professional footballer who has represented the United Arab Emirates internationally. Who also plays as a defender for Al-Wahda.-Club:1Continental competitions include the AFC Champions League...

Maksim Shatskikh

Maksim Aleksandrovich Shatskikh , is an Uzbek professional footballer who plays for Arsenal Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League....

Anvarjon Soliev

Anvarjon Soliev is an Uzbekistani football striker, playing for Uzbek side BunyodkorFirstly he played in Yoshlik football team. Then he continued in Navbahor Namangan...

Own goals
Marcus Tulio Tanaka

Marcus Tulio Tanaka

, formerly name ; Marcus Túlio Lyuji Murzani Tanaka is a Brazilian-born Japanese footballer who plays for the J. League Division 1 club Nagoya Grampus.-Career:...

(for Bahrain)
Fares Juma (for Saudi Arabia)
Ahmed Ali Al Binali (for Japan)

External links

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