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North and South Korea will meet in qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup in the preliminary draw.

Preliminary Draw Results

Former Iran striker Ali Daei on Sunday drew also drew Jordan and Turkministan into Group 3. The two qualifying games will not be the first football matches between South Korea and the Communist North.

Earlier, former world footballer of the year George Weah drew Qatar as the very first team of the evening and the Middle Eastern country was placed in Group 1.

Also in the group are Australia, China and Iraq, in a group that can be described as a group of death as all four countries are considered potential World Cup finalists. Australia are playing for the first time in Asian World Cup qualifying after a move from Oceania.

The Australian technical director Rob Baan said that it was a tought draw. "It is one of the toughest groups. It is our advantage that Iraq will not be able to play at home.

"We need to know as much as possible about our opponents and then we can make it. Certainly we are aiming to qualify for the finals in South Africa."

Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Lebanon and Singapore make up Group 4, while Iran, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Syria are in Group 5.

Daei, who scored over 100 international goals for Iran, said that he expected the side to do well in the qualifiers. "It will not be easy, but if we want to qualify for the finals, we have to win matches.

"I think we have a good chance to make it to South Africa."

Forty-two Asian countries and Australia entered the competition, but only 20 remained by Sunday and were drawn into the five groups, where they will play on a home and away basis.

The top two teams will advance to the fourth stage, where they will be drawn into two groups of five teams each. The top two teams from the home and away series will qualify directly for South Africa, while the two third-placed teams play-off for the right to play off against the winner of the Oceania zone.//dpa