2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC) 24 November 2000 - 15 November 2001 39 1 153 587 2730506 OMA 1995 Hani Al-DhabitOMA 1995 Yaqoob Juma Al-MukhainiKSA Talal Al-MeshalSYR 1980 Said Bayazid (11 goals each) 1998 2006 Listed below are the dates and results for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for Asia. The Asian Football Confederation was allocated four and half qualifying berths for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, South Korea and Japan, the co-hosts, qualified automatically, leaving two and half spots open for competition between 40 teams. Myanmar withdrew from the tournament after being placed in Group 2 but before any matches had been played, therefore reducing the group to 3 teams. Afghanistan, Bhutan and North Korea chose not to participate. Asia's two remaining automatic qualifying berths were taken by Saudi Arabia and China. Iran defeated United Arab Emirates for the chance to become the possible third Asian qualifier, but lost to Ireland in the inter-continental play-off. Format There were three rounds of play: First round: The 39 teams were divided into nine groups of four teams each, and one group of three teams. The teams played against each other twice, except in group 2, where the teams played against each other once. The group winners advanced to the second round. Second round: The 10 teams were divided into two groups of five teams. The teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners qualified for the World Cup. The runners-up advanced to the AFC third round. Third round: The two teams played against each other on a home-and-away basis. The winner advanced to the UEFA–AFC inter-continental play-off. First round 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round Group 1 Group 1 y Group 2 Group 2 y Group 3 Group 3 y Group 4 Group 4 y Group 5 Group 5 y Group 6 Group 6 y Group 7 Group 7 y Group 8 Group 8 y Group 9 Group 9 y Group 10 Group 10 y Second round 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round Group A Group A y Group B Group B y Third round 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round IRN 4–0 UAE 1–0 3–0 Inter-confederation play-offs 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA–AFC play-off) playoff1 Qualified teams The following four teams from AFC qualified for the final tournament. Team Qualified as Qualified onPrevious appearances in FIFA World Cup1 JPN * Hosts 31 May 1996 1 (1998) KOR 1997 5 (1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998) KSA A1 Second round group A winners 21 October 2001 2 (1994, 1998) CHN B1 Second round group B winners 7 October 2001 0 (debut) 1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year. Top goalscorers 587 153 OMA 1995 Hani Al-Dhabit OMA 1995 Yaqoob Juma Al-Mukhaini KSA Talal Al-Meshal SYR 1980 Said Bayazid IRN Ali Daei KSA Obeid Al-Dosari THA Kiatisuk Senamuang UAE Yaser Salem Ali UZB Jafar Irismetov IRQ 1991 Hesham Mohammed IRN Karim Bagheri KSA Sami Al-Jaber UZB Mirjalol Qosimov Below are full goalscorer lists for each round: 22em First round Second round Third round References External links FIFA.com Reports RSSSF Page AFC 2002 Category:2001 in Asian men's international football