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 (inter-confederation play-offs) Cup. <section begin=playoff2 /> <section end=playoff2 /> 1–1 on aggregate. Australia won 4–2 on penalties and qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. There were 5 goals scored in 4 matches, for an average of 1.25 goals per match. 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs) For the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, there were two scheduled inter-confederation play-offs to determine the final two qualification spots to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The four teams participating were: The draw for the order in which the two matches were played was held on 10 September 2005 during the FIFA Congress in