Who will be representing Asia?

Asia were allocated 4 places to the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa, and one place in a play-off versus a representative from Oceania.

43 teams started the campaign. Timor-Leste started World Cup qualifying for the first time in their history, while Australia, who previously were part of the Oceania zone, made their debut in the Asian zone.

First round was a play-off round with 38 teams. Of the 19 teams that made through, eight lowest seeded were required to play in the second round, while others went straight through to round three. 20 teams were drawn to 5 four-teamed groups in the third round. Two top teams qualified for round four. Round four saw the remaining 10 teams drawn into 2 five-teamed groups, from where the two top teams qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2010 and 3rd placed teams played a play-off to decide who will take on a team from Oceania.

Group 1 was won by Australia, who finished the group unbeaten. They were followed by Japan and Bahrain went into the play-off.

Two Koreas topped Group 2, with South Korea taking 1st place and Korea DPR, who've had former England and Mexico boss Sven-Göran Eriksson linked to their managerial post for the World Cup finals, taking the second qualifying spot on goal difference ahead of Saudi Arabia, who'd take on Bahrain in a play-off.

Both matches in the play-off ended in draws (0:0 and 2:2), but Bahrain advanced in the end thanks to away goals to take on Oceania qualifying zone winners New Zealand.