World Cup Update

World leagues took a break this weekend to make way for another FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying round. Eight new teams clinched spots in South Africa next year - Germany, Italy, Serbia Denmark, the Ivory Coast, Chile, USA, and Mexico. Here is an update on the current standings for each region.

CONCACAF:
- Current Table - The US and Mexico both qualified yesterday with wins over Honduras and El Salvador, respectively. Costa Rica sits two points ahead of Honduras heading into the final matches on Wednesday. The third place team will get an automatic bid and the fourth place team will head into a home-and-away playoff series with the 5th place team from South America.
- Wednesday's match-ups - USA vs. Costa Rica - 7:30pm - ESPN2HD

CONMEBOL:
- Current Table - After 17 out of 18 rounds of matches, 3 teams are in (Brazil, Paraguay, & Chile), 3 teams are out (Colombia, Bolivia, & Peru), and 4 teams are left to fight over the final two spots (Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, & Venezuela).
- Wednesday's match-ups - Argentina and Uruguay face off, a win clinches South Africa, a loss could knock that team out of World Cup qualifying, but a draw could save both teams. Ecuador and Venezuela both will have a hard time moving up in table with matches against Brazil and Chile.

OFC:
- Current Table - New Zealand finished 1st atop the group table and is currently in a home-and-way playoff series with Bahrain.
- Next match day - After a 0-0 draw the two teams will face off again November 14th in a winner takes all match-up. Note with 0 away goals from New Zealand, Bahrain has the slight edge.

AFC:
- Current Table - Australia, Japan, North Korea, and South Korea already have their tickets to South Africa. Bahrain beat Saudi Arabia in a playoff to advance to play New Zealand (see above).

CAF:
- Current Table -
Group A: Cameroon sits 1 point ahead of Gabon, with Togo (ManCity's Adebayor) out of the running.
Group B: Tunisia is ahead of Nigeria by 2 points.
Group C: Algeria has nearly clinched a bid with 3 points over 2nd place Egypt and only 1 match to go. Egypt can only advance if they defeat Algeria in their final match by at least 3 goals.
Group D: Ghana has already secured their spot with 1 match to go.
Group E: The Ivory Coast led by Chelsea's Drogba and Barca's Toure won the group with 16 goals in 5 games.
- Notable games for the final match day for CAF (November 14th) are: Gabon v. Togo, Algeria v. Egypt, & Nigeria v. Kenya.

UEFA:
- Note: Each group winner advances, with the top 8 out of 9 2nd place teams advancing to a final playoff round.
- Current Table -
Group 1: Denmark finished first, with Portugal sitting 1 point ahead of Sweden for 2nd place.
Group 2: Switzerland can only finish 2nd in the group, at worst, but Greece & Israel still have a chance to advance.
Group 3: Slovakia and Slovenia sit atop the group, with the Czech Republic looking in from 3rd place and 2 points out.
Group 4: Germany defeated Russia on Saturday to clinch the group, however Russia has advanced to the final round playoff of 2nd place teams.
Group 5: Spain ran through the group undefeated, with Bosnia topping Turkey for the 2nd place spot.
Group 6: England dropped their match this weekend to the Ukraine, a man down, but had already won the group. The victory moved the Ukraine past Croatia by 1 point into 2nd place.
Group 7: Serbia were the surprise group winners, with France earning the 2nd place spot.
Group 8: The 2006 Champions Italy, will be in South Africa to defend their title, Ireland earned a spot in final 8 playoff round.
Group 9: The Netherlands won UEFA's smallest group.
- Notable games for the nextmatch day for UEGA (October 14th) are: Switzerland v. Israel, Czech Republic v. Northern Ireland, Kazakhstan v. Croatia