Melboure Victory Ready for Title Defence

The reigning Hyundai A-League Champions have launched their title defence with a family day at Melbourne Docklands today showing off their 2006/2007 premiership and championship trophies.

Thousands of fans turned out to meet the players who were happy to sign autographs and pose for photos.

All players were in attendance including Archie Thompson who kicked 5 goals in a match winning performance in the 2006/2007 championship final along with captain Kevin Muscat.



Victoy play their opening Hyundai A-League match on Sunday August 26 against competition newcomers Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

Asian Football Central
http://asianfc.com

AFC Announces 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification Seedings

The Asian Football Confederation has announced it's qualification process and seedings in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals to be held in South Africa.

The AFC has been allocated 4.5 places in the World Cup finals (5th to playoff against the top ranked side from Oceania) and has seeded it's 43 entries based on their performances in the 2006 tournament and earlier qualification matches.

As a result, Australia has been allocated the top seeding as the only AFC member to proceed beyond the group stages in Germany.

The other nations to make up the AFC top 5 and who will each receive byes through to the third round of the qualification process are Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Japan and IR IRan.

Despite winning last month's AFC Asian Cup, Iraq have been seeded 12th and will be required to play in the first round of qualification (08 + 28 October 2007).

The top 4 Asian nations (who will receive direct entry to the FIFA World Cup finals) will be known by qualification round 4 which concludes September 2009. The AFC/OFC playoff will be held on the 10th and 14th Of October 2009.

The AFC will conduct the full draw on Monday August 6.

Asian Football Central
http://asianfc.com

AFC Asian Cup Official Champions T-Shirt

To help support the incredibly popular victory of Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup 2007, an Official 'Champions' T-Shirt has been manufactured for fans of the remarkable achievement. Available exclusively through the Official AFC Asian Cup website's online store, the T-Shirt Features the AFC Asian Cup Logo, the flags of all the competing Nations and the celebratory 'IRAQ CHAMPIONS' message across the front. The T-shirts are manufactured in 100% Cotton and are available at USD $24.00 plus carriage.

The T-shirt can be ordered at http://www.official-merchandise.net/