WCQ round 4 seeding to be determined by FIFA ranking

PFDC – KUALA LUMPUR, The AFC Competitions Committee decided that like in round 3, also in the final round of Asian World Cup qualification the seeding for the draw will be determined by the then latest FIFA ranking.

During the last World Cup qualifiers, the teams were seeded according to the results of the previous World Cup including qualification, seeding Iran second in Asia.

However, due to Iran’s poor showing in 2008/2009, Iran therefore only would have been seventh seed this time around.

Currently Iran are fourth in the Asian FIFA ranking.

The decision has already been ratified by the AFC Executive Committee.

Iran were recently grouped with Indonesia, Bahrain and Qatar in the third round of qualification, which will kick off on September 2. Iran will need to finish among the top two teams in order to qualify for the final stage.