2010 FIFA World Cup qualification the finals, with CONCACAF's fourth-place team facing CONMEBOL's fifth-placed team, and AFC's fifth-placed team facing the winner of the OFC. As the host nation, South Africa qualified automatically. As in 2006, the current cup holders – Italy – did not qualify automatically. For FIFA World Cup qualifying stages the method used for separating teams level on points is the same for all Confederations, as decided by FIFA itself. If teams were even on points at the end of group play, the tied teams would be ranked by: This is a change from 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, where results between
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Fourth Round a penalty was awarded to them but the referee disallowed the resulting goal and offered an indirect free kick to Bahrain for encroachment. Uzbekistan had formally requested for the match to be recorded as an automatic 3-0 victory. Bahrain won on away goals and advanced to the AFC-CONCACAF play-off. FIFA invalidates Uzbekistan-Bahrain result; match to be replayed 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC Fourth Round The AFC Fourth Round of 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification was held on 8 and 12 October 2005 between the two teams that finished third in the third round. The winning team advanced to