Japan, S.Korea among Asia's top seeds

Japan, S.Korea among Asia's top seeds

TOKYO: Japan and South Korea, co-hosts of the 2002 World Cup, have been named among eight top seeds for the first round of Asian qualifiers for the 2006 finals in Germany, the Japan Football Association (JFA) said on Wednesday.

The draw will be conducted by FIFA in Frankfurt on Dec. 5 with the Asian qualifiers scheduled to kick off on Febr. 18, JFA general secretary Takeo Hirata said following official notification from the Asian Football Confederation.

China and Saudi Arabia, who also qualified for the 2002 World Cup, were also among the top seeds.

Japan will play their opening World Cup qualifier against one of the eight second-seeded teams, raising the possibility of a clash with Qatar, currently under the stewardship of former Japan coach Philippe Troussier. --Reuters