CONCACAF:
- Current Table (4th Round) - With four match days left the top 4 seem safe to advance to the World Cup or the play-off vs. South America's 5th place team. Luckily the US plays its next two games against the two worst teams in the group, they just need to take advantage of it. Two wins over the next 7 days should all but assure the US a spot in South Africa next summer. Mexico has to take on the top two teams in the group over the same time period which will either push them toward the world cup or drop them into danger. Forget the last game vs. the US, Mexico will lose on the road to Coasta Rica.
- OFC Current Table - The worlds smallest region was the first to conclude when New Zealand finished 5-0-1, which qualified them to take on the AFC region's 5th place team (Bahrain or Saudi Arabia). Seriously, how is this even a FIFA sanctioned group? New Zealand is the star country. I know the road to the World Cup is very difficult for these teams, but with the AFC (Asia) group stretching from the middle east to Japan to Australia, it seems like the two could be more evenly split.
- AFC Current Table - 43 teams were narrowed down to 10 for the fourth and final round of qualifying. Australia, Japan, South Korea & North Korea have already qualified for South Africa, while Bahrian and Saudi Arabia will be playing home and away over the next week to determine who will face New Zealand. The AFC vs. OFC playoff will take place during October and November. While none of these teams are traditional powerhouses I do think that several could make serious moves next summer. Japan and South Korea will be the most likely, but Australia has built a strong team and did not lose a single World Cup qualifying match in round four.
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