The final phase of the 2006 FIFA World Cup (officially titled the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany, sometimes referred to as the Soccer World Cup) is scheduled to take place in Germany between June 9 and July 9, 2006. The Qualification for the tournament is now complete, with 32 teams from the competition confirmed. The 2006 final is the eighteenth to be played.
A total of 12 German cities have been selected to host the World Cup finals. Stadium capacities shown are all seated capacities. Many of the stadiums have more capacity for German national football matches, as some of the seats are replaced by bleachers. Starting in Germany 2006, the winner of the last World Cup had to qualify for the Finals. Only the host nation qualifies automatically as of 2006.
In the qualification process for the 2006 FIFA World Cup ™, the six FIFA confederations were allocated a share of the 32 available seats based on the strength of their teams. The final distribution was as follows: Europe – represented by UEFA: 51 teams competing for 13 places (Germany automatically qualified as the host country for a total of 14 places); Africa – 51 teams; South America – 10 teams; Asia – 39 teams; North, Central America and the Caribbean: 34 teams; Oceania: 12 teams.
For the first time, the defending champion (Brazil) does not qualify automatically. The hosts (Germany) will keep their automatic place. In 1934, the defending champions (Uruguay) refused to participate and the hosts (Italy) had to qualify, but in tournaments between 1938 and 2002 (inclusive), the hosts and defending champions had automatic places.
The original distribution of places among the six confederations required that Oceania obtain a full place in the 32 finalists; however, this idea was seen as giving Australia a practically safe place in the final, being by far the strongest soccer nation in its region. This decision was reconsidered in June 2003 and the previous distribution of locations between Oceania and South America was restored.
The main surprises in the European qualification at the World Cup in Germany were the absences of Turkey, who ranked third in 2002 (eliminated by Switzerland after a momentous tiebreaker), the 2004 European champion Greece (eliminated by Ukraine ) and established teams, Denmark (eliminated by Ukraine). also), Russia (eliminated by Portugal) and Belgium (eliminated by Serbia-Montenegro and Spain). In Africa, 2002 quarter-finalists Senegal (eliminated by Togo) and established teams South Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria (eliminated, respectively, by Ghana, Ivory Coast and Angola) unexpectedly missed the trip to the Finals. The other areas suffered no major surprises. While representing Oceania, since the beginning of 2006 Australia is part of the Asian Confederation, and will represent Asia in the following World Cups.
If the teams are tied in points at the end of the group game, the tied teams will be classified as follows: greater number of points obtained in matches between tied teams, goal difference in matches between tied teams, greater number of goals scored in matches between tied teams, goal difference in all group matches, greatest number of goals scored in all group matches, play-offs on neutral ground, with overtime and penalties if necessary (in the qualifying round), draw (in the final round) This is a change from the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where the total goal differential was the first tiebreaker.
Thirty-two years after the last soccer World Cup in Germany, the 2006 FIFA World Cup will again take place in Germany. For the first time after the reunification of both German states, the whole world will look to New Germany, located in the heart of Europe.
