Asian football nations should expect five automatic berths to the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) doing everything in its power to realize the goal, AFC officials said yesterday.
AFC vice president Asad Taqi made the remarks during the draw for the preliminary and qualifying rounds for the 2004 Asian Cup which will be held in China.
"We are fighting very strongly and are hoping and are almost certain that the number of places will increase to five seats in 2006," Taqi told journalists.
"Everyone should know that the AFC is fighting, especially after the results of the 2002 World Cup, for increasing the numbers of places in the World Cup finals."
Asia had four teams at the 2002 finals, including co-hosts South Korea and Japan.
The success of South Korea in reaching the semifinals, the best performance of an Asian side in World Cup history, as well as Japan's qualification for the last 16 have boosted arguments for another place.
Opponents of giving Asia extra berths have long argued that the allocation for the world's most populous continent should only be increased on merit.
To make a success of the 2004 Asian Cup, the first to be held in China, the host nation needs to build a team capable of winning the tournament, AFC General-Secretary Peter Velappan said.
"International events held in China are always extremely well organized -- the 2003 Women's World Cup, the 2004 Asian Cup and of course the 2008 Beijing Olympics will all be outstanding events," Velappan said.
"What the China Football Association and the central and provincial governments have to do is pay more attention to producing better-quality players."
The best way for Chinese and Asian players to improve their abilities would be to play in European leagues at all levels including lower divisions, he said.
"In the next five years, China should have at least 100 players playing in Europe, including the lower leagues," he said.
"After three years they should come back home to play, this will make the [Chinese] league two to three times better."
Forty-one teams went into the Asian Cup draw, with a total of 14 qualifying slots up for grabs for a place in the 16-team finals.
The preliminary round begins next March with 20 teams divided into seven groups and the winner of each group in home and away play advancing to the qualifying round.
In the qualifying round, 28 teams in seven groups will each play six matches with the top two in each group advancing to the finals to be held in the Chinese cities of Beijing, Jinan, Chongqing and Chengdu.
Hosts China and 2000 champions Japan qualify automatically.
The qualifying round draw will include Afghanistan and East Timor, with Velappan believing that it is important for both sides to be involved in one of Asia's biggest sports events.
"It is symbolic to have Afghanistan around. After enduring years of war in the country, Afghanistan have been depleted of a proper infrastructure and the AFC will help them regain their former position and to rejoin the football world," Velappan said.
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