KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 (Reuters) - Ranked 200 in the FIFA rankings, East Timor have no real chance of reaching the next World Cup but that will not stop their players dreaming of Brazil and 2014 when the first round of Asian qualifying begins on Wednesday.
The former Portuguese colony and their hosts Nepal, ranked 53 places higher, will be among the 16 lowest-ranked Asian teams battling it out in the first round, the return leg of which is scheduled for July 3.
It will be a long journey even for the eight winners who will join another 22 teams for the second round matches on July 23 and 28.
Australia, Japan, both the Koreas and Bahrain—the continent’s top five teams in South Africa 2010 qualifying — will automatically enter the third round, the draw of which will be held in Rio de Janeiro on July 31.
Four Asian teams will qualify directly for the Brazil edition while one will have to contest a two-leg playoff.
The immediate focus, however, is on clearing the first hurdle when Cambodia host Laos at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh in Wednesday’s first match.
The Afghanistan v Palestine first leg encounter will be played at the neutral Metallurg Stadium in Tursunzade, Tajikistan, for security reasons.
The former Portuguese colony and their hosts Nepal, ranked 53 places higher, will be among the 16 lowest-ranked Asian teams battling it out in the first round, the return leg of which is scheduled for July 3.
It will be a long journey even for the eight winners who will join another 22 teams for the second round matches on July 23 and 28.
Australia, Japan, both the Koreas and Bahrain—the continent’s top five teams in South Africa 2010 qualifying — will automatically enter the third round, the draw of which will be held in Rio de Janeiro on July 31.
Four Asian teams will qualify directly for the Brazil edition while one will have to contest a two-leg playoff.
The immediate focus, however, is on clearing the first hurdle when Cambodia host Laos at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh in Wednesday’s first match.
The Afghanistan v Palestine first leg encounter will be played at the neutral Metallurg Stadium in Tursunzade, Tajikistan, for security reasons.
Wednesday’s other first round qualifying matches include Malaysia v Taiwan, Bangladesh v Pakistan, Cambodia v Laos, Sri Lanka v Philippines, Vietnam V Macau and Mongolia v Myanmar.
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