Fight still on in CONCACAF

With just two matchdays remaining, no teams from North, Central America and the Caribbean have yet qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™. Trinidad and Tobago are officially out of the running, but the five other participants - USA, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica - are all still alive, and the former three can book passage to the finals on the penultimate matchday on 10 October.

The top three finishers from the region will automatically reach South Africa 2010, while the fourth-placed team will face a two-legged play-off with the fifth-placed side from the South American Zone.

Who is qualified?
With just four points separating the top four teams, no sides from the CONCACAF Zone have yet booked passage to the first African finals.

Who is out?
Picking up just five points from their eight games in the final round of qualifying, Trinidad and Tobago - who made their FIFA World Cup debut at Germany 2006 - are officially out of contention for South Africa as, at best, they can only gain six more points, putting them on 11 (one point behind fourth-placed Costa Rica). As the only island participant in the final 'hexagonal', the Soca Warriors' elimination means no Caribbean team will be present among the 32 sides at next year's world finals.

The scenarios
USA: The US will assure themselves of a place at South Africa 2010 with a win in their penultimate qualifier in Honduras, regardless of other results. If Bob Bradley's team draw and Costa Rica, currently in fourth with 12 points, fail to win, then USA will qualify. They will also qualify if Costa Rica lose, regardless of what they do against Honduras.

Mexico: El Tri can qualify for the finals in their next match, against El Salvador in Mexico City, with a win, regardless of other results in the region.

Honduras: Los Catrachos can reach South Africa 2010 in their next game if they win at home against USA and Costa Rica lose.

All three of the leading teams - USA, Mexico and Honduras - will qualify automatically if Honduras wins, Mexico avoids defeat and Costa Rica loses.

El Salvador: Los Cuscatlecos gave themselves a lifeline by beating Costa Rica 1-0 on Wednesday but with only eight points from eight games, they could find themselves eliminated after their next match in Mexico. They will go out of contention if they lose, if they draw and Costa Rica draw, or if they win and Costa Rica and Honduras both win.

The play-off
The fourth-placed finishers in the CONCACAF Zone will square off against South America's fifth-placed side (likely to be Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or Colombia) over two legs. The CONCACAF team will host the first leg on 14 November 2009, with the return leg in South America four days later.

Bahrain or New Zealand in South Africa 2010

Bahrain play host to New Zealand in the first leg of the Asia-Oceania play-off with both teams in touching distance of a berth at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, and hoping to create their own piece of history in the process. Just 180 minutes separates Bahrain from a debut on world football's grandest stage, the smallest nation ever to do so, while New Zealand hope to end a 28-year wait since their much-vaunted achievement in reaching Spain 1982.

Coach Milan Macala's team are no strangers to the white-hot heat of an intercontinental play-off having narrowly failed to overcome Trinidad & Tobago four years ago. It is 11 months since the New Zealanders took to the field in a FIFA World Cup qualifier but they will have benefitted greatly from their experiences at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Join FIFA.com as we take a closer look at Saturday's intriguing match-up.

The stakes
Bahrain has endured a lengthy qualification campaign resulting in Milan Macala's unit being battle-hardened and cohesive. The Bahrainis have lost just twice at home falling to Japan and Australia, the latter occasion in the most unlucky circumstances. The National Stadium in Bahrain will provide a somewhat unfamiliar backdrop for the Kiwis who have rarely ventured to the Middle East, though their most recent international outing was a 3-1 over Jordan in Amman.

While the Kiwis do not have the same FIFA World Cup experience as their opponents, they are led by New Zealand footballing deity in coach Ricki Herbert and his assistant Brian Turner, both of whom were key figures in New Zealand's elongated, but ultimately successful, qualification push nearly three decades ago. That campaign involved an astonishing 5-0 win in Saudi Arabia, with current All Whites vice-captain Tim Brown describing the achievement as "inspirational" and "the stuff of legend".

The preparation
The 22-strong Bahrain squad trained together for the first time on Tuesday with the arrival of Qatar-based defensive duo Faouzi Aaish and Mohammed Hussain, the last of nine players based offshore to arrive. The New Zealanders spent the week in Dubai and are injury-free but will miss the surety offered by the presence of regular goalkeeper Glen Moss absent through suspension.

To enhance their potency up front Herbert called in four combative overseas-based strikers in the shape of Plymouth Argyle's Rory Fallon, Celtic's Chris Killen, in-form goal-sneak Shane Smeltz of Gold Coast United, plus tall West Bromwich Albion youngster Chris Wood. Despite possessing a forward line with a physical presence, the Kiwis will find the home team's goal protected by an equally imposing backline.

Players to watch
Shoring up Bahrain's attacking line alongside Belgium-based Jaycee John is the dynamic Ismail Abdullatif, scorer of the dramatic injury-time equaliser against Saudi Arabia which catapulted the Bahrainis into the play-off. The 23-year-old striker is capable of playing on the flanks or in a central role, and has a knack for scoring crucial goals.

Kiwi supporters faced an anxious wait after defensive cornerstone Ryan Nelsen was ruled out of Blackburn Rovers' match against Arsenal last weekend due to a back injury. But the 31-year-old captain has been declared fit, providing New Zealand with much-needed experience and a psychological boost. The only All White currently competing in the Premier League, Nelson provides leadership as well as a presence at set-pieces.

The stat
6 - Bahrain scored just six times across eight matches in the final stage of South Africa 2010 qualifying. Of the ten teams across the two groups, only Qatar and Uzbekistan scored fewer goals. Milan Macala will be desperately hoping his strikers find a cutting edge in front of goal with the margins over the two matches likely to be tight.

The words
"We have played many games and have gained a lot of experience this year. We are aware that New Zealand are serious opponents and we can't underestimate them. However, having carefully analysed their style of play we know we can use our strengths to move forward," Milan Macala, Bahrain coach.

"The players are now in their twenties and some of them late twenties so there is a lot of experience, and in games like this we need to tap into that experience of playing in big leagues around the world because we'll need it on Saturday night," Brian Turner, New Zealand assistant coach.

Four places still up in African qualifiers

With just two matchdays remaining in the third and final round of African qualifiers, a clearer picture is emerging as to who will be boarding the plane to South Africa next summer. FIFA.com takes you through the groups to see who has missed out and who still has qualification in their sights.

Which teams are already through?
With four wins out of four, seven goals for and none against, Ghana’s progress in this third qualifying round has been flawless. With qualification secured, the Black Stars can now aim to build on their debut performance at Germany 2006.

Which teams are out?
Still winless after four games, Rwanda (Group C) and Sudan (Group D) are no longer in the running for the big event in South Africa. Despite faring somewhat better, Mali and Benin are in the same situation in Group D, as are Guinea and Malawi in E.

The permutations
Group A: This is by far the most open of the five groups with all four teams still in with a shout, although Cameroon are in the driving seat after their recent back-to-back wins over second-placed Gabon. If they beat Togo, and Morocco win in Gabon on the next matchday, the Indomitable Lions will join Ghana in the finals. For the other three teams, their fate is out of their hands.

Group B: Two solid performances against main rivals Nigeria (0-0 in Rades and 2-2 in Abuja) mean that Tunisia will qualify if they record a home win against Kenya in October and Nigeria fail to beat Mozambique. The Super Eagles will need to win their two final matches and hope other results go their way if they are to finish top.

Group C: Twenty-three years after their last FIFA World Cup appearance, Algeria have never been closer to a return to the world stage. With an unblemished home record (three wins out of three), the Fennecs need only to better Egypt’s result on the next matchday to wrap up qualification. Failing that, all will be decided when they face off against the Pharoahs in November.

Group D: With Ghana safely through, all that remains is for Mali, Benin and Sudan to battle it out for second place in the two outstanding rounds of fixtures.

Groupe E: Although qualification is not yet a mathematical certainty, with 12 points out of 12, Côte d’Ivoire have done all the hard work. A single point from their two remaining games, in Malawi and at home to Guinea, will be enough to see the Elephants through, four years after their maiden FIFA World Cup.

What about second and third place?
This last round of qualifiers in Africa doubles as the qualification tournament for the 2010 African Cup of Nations. The top three teams in each group will book their passage to the finals in Angola in January, just a few months before the FIFA World Cup itself kicks off. Algeria, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire are already assured of a place, while the others still have everything to play for in the last two matchdays.

Maradona facing tuff test in South American qualifiers

The penultimate round of fixtures in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ takes place this weekend, when six teams continue the race for the two automatic qualification berths and one play-off spot that remain. Brazil and Paraguay have already booked their places at next year's showpiece event, while Chile and Ecuador could seal their own spots this weekend. The duo will be taking nothing for granted, however, as Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela and Colombia are hot on their heels in what has turned out to be the tightest preliminary competition since the current format began in 1995.

The big game
Ecuador-Uruguay

Saturday's fixtures involve four teams whose qualification hopes are very much alive. Fourth-placed Ecuador can seal their passage on the night provided they overcome Uruguay, Argentina lose to Peru, and Venezuela and Colombia fail to win their respective meetings with Paraguay and Chile. The visitors, meanwhile, require at least a point to keep their qualification dreams alive ahead of the final matchday. Realistically, though, both teams need a victory on a night when emotions will be running high.

Elsewhere
Also hoping to secure their passage this weekend are third-placed Chile. Marcelo Bielsa's men will have to overcome a Colombia side still hopeful of finishing fifth and taking the play-off spot after winning their last three home games without conceding a goal. Meanwhile, La Roja, who will be missing the suspended Alexis Sanchez, have already won four times on the road this campaign, and are aiming for their first appearance at the FIFA World Cup since 1998.

In Buenos Aires, Diego Maradona's Argentina must put an end to their three-game losing streak if they are to avoid the ignominy of missing out. Although their opponents have never won in Argentina on seven previous visits, it was a 2-2 draw with Peru at the Bombonera in 1969 that prevented La Albiceleste from reaching the 1970 finals, the only previous time they have failed to qualify for the tournament.

Venezuela remain the only team in South America never to have qualified for the FIFA World Cup and, if they are to lose that unenviable tag, they will first have to defeat Paraguay at home on Saturday. Although already assured of qualification, La Albiroja, who have won three of their four previous visits to the Caribbean coast, have stated their intent to finish as high as possible in the standings.

Lastly, table-toppers Brazil head west on Sunday to take on the already-eliminated Bolivia in a match that will have no bearing on the race for qualification.

Player to watch
Pablo Aimar (ARG)

Benfica's playmaker returns to the Argentinian fold after a two-year absence in a bid to stimulate the attacking efforts of Lionel Messi and Co. All eyes will be on Aimar at River Plate's stadium, where he made his own professional debut some 12 years ago.

The stat
0- The number of times Chile have won in four visits to Colombia in FIFA World Cup qualifying. Having lost three and drawn one of these meetings, can Chile get that elusive first win and seal qualification in the process.

The words
"I've thought a lot about playing at this World Cup. It's my ultimate dream and we're just a step away. Appearing in a World Cup is the pinnacle of any player's career, and yes, I really can see us getting there," Venezuela's Juan Arango

This weekend's fixtures
Saturday 10 October
Ecuador-Uruguay
Colombia-Chile
Argentina-Peru
Venezuela-Paraguay

Sunday 11 October
Bolivia-Brazil

European qualifiers matches preview

Expect tension and intrigue in the penultimate round of European Zone qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, with three top-of-the-table showdowns in store along with another three potentially decisive encounters.

No fewer than 13 teams will represent the Old Continent in South Africa next summer, but so far only the Netherlands, Spain and England have sealed their places. Defending champions Italy need a solitary point to join them, while Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia and Slovakia are also well placed.

The qualifying picture is less clear in Group 4, however, where supporters of Germany and Russia may have to wait until the final whistle of their last outings on Wednesday to know who will advance, should Guus Hiddink's side overcome Joachim Low's tomorrow.

The last four teams to book their tickets will emerge on 18 November, following the play-offs between the eight best second-placed sides. The draw for those contests will take place at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on 19 October.

The fixtures:

Group 1
Denmark-Sweden
Portugal-Hungary

Group 2
Luxembourg-Switzerland
Israel-Moldova
Greece-Latvia

Group 3
Slovakia-Slovenia
Czech Republic-Poland

Group 4
Finland-Wales
Russia-Germany
Liechtenstein-Azerbaijan

Group 5
Estonia-Bosnia-Herzegovina
Belgium-Turkey
Armenia-Spain

Group 6
Belarus-Kazakhstan
Ukraine-England

Group 7
Serbia-Romania
Austria-Lithuania
France-Faroe Islands

Group 8
Montenegro-Georgia
Cyprus-Bulgaria
Republic of Ireland-Italy

The big game
Russia-Germany, Group 4, Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, 19.00

In-form Arsenal playmaker Andrei Arshavin and the ever-dangerous Roman Pavlyuchenko are readying themselves to provide the attacking menace for an ambitious Russia team that is "alive again", according to coach Hiddink, who is no stranger to prevailing in must-win games. Opponents Germany boast a one-point advantage in the section, however, and Low, who has again chosen to overlook midfielder Torsten Frings, will field Rene Adler between the posts and will likely employ a counter-attacking approach. A draw would almost certainly see the Germans progress as group winners since they host Finland in their final fixture, but a triumph for the hosts would leave Russia two points clear ahead of their trip to bottom side Azerbaijan.

The other games
Victory over neighbours and closest challengers Sweden would send Denmark through in Group 1, and the unbeaten Danes will go into the match as favourites, despite having let their momentum slip of late. They boast the most-prolific attack in the pool and possess the additional advantage of hosting Albania in their final game. For their part, Portugal entertain Hungary still hopeful of earning themselves a qualification berth, despite lying five points off the summit.

Switzerland look set to sew up top spot in Group 2 as they head to Luxembourg, knowing success against the team that recently shipped seven goals in Israel would end all suspense. The race for second place continues to provide plenty of drama, on the other hand, with rivals Greece and Latvia locking horns on Saturday and Israel facing Moldova. A draw in Athens would allow Israel to pull level on points with their fellow hopefuls.

In Group 3, Slovakia's superb form throughout the campaign has left them requiring no more than a point against second-placed Slovenia to qualify, but tomorrow's visitors are the only side to have beaten them since qualifying began and they have not given up on first place themselves. The task for new Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss, installed in June, has been complicated by the suspension of top scorer Stanislav Sestak and an injury to regular forward Filip Holosko, yet despite those absences, Bratislava is bracing itself to celebrate an historic moment. As for the play-off place, Northern Ireland, Czech Republic and Poland have all set their sights on leapfrogging the current incumbents.

Five points behind untouchable Group 5 frontrunners Spain, the runners-up berth is at present the preserve of Bosnia-Herzegovina, who travel to Estonia eager to promote their cause. Four points further back, however, Turkey still hope to stage a late comeback and need to win in Belgium to keep their dreams alive.

England rule the waves in Group 6, where Ukraine have designs on finishing second and are plotting to become the first side to take points off Fabio Capello's charges. Victory would lift Andriy Schevchenko and Co above Croatia and leave them in pole position to clinch a play-off berth ahead of their journey to Andorra.

As for Serbia, a home triumph over a Romania team strengthened by the return of Adrian Mutu would confirm them as Group 7 winners, consigning 2006 runners-up France to a place in the play-offs no matter how Les Bleus fare at home to Faroe Islands.

Although Marcello Lippi insists it would be a mistake "to go out looking for a draw", a point against Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland team in Dublin would send Italy through to South Africa as top dogs in Group 8. The world champions look suitably equipped to guarantee their progress, too, particularly as the hosts will be deprived the services of Damien Duff, Darron Gibson, Steven Reid and Caleb Folan.

Player to watch
Captain and spiritual leader of his country's international team, 38-year-old Vitalijs Astafjevs will celebrate his 157th cap for Latvia against Greece on Saturday and move level with Martin Reim as the most experienced outfield player in the history of the European game - a record his Estonian counterpart has held alone since 2007.

The stat
17 - If they can collect the remaining points they need on Saturday, Germany and Italy will each be able to look forward to their 17th appearance at a FIFA World Cup. Only Brazil boast a better record, A Seleçao having contested every edition so far and due to make their 19th participation in South Africa.

What they said
"Derbies between Denmark and Sweden are always a big event in Scandinavia and the one on Saturday will be even more heated because qualification for the World Cup is at stake," Jon Dahl Tomasson, Denmark forward and captain