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North Korea qualify for 2010 World Cup

Published:Thursday | June 18, 2009 | 9:30 AM

North Korea have qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1966 after playing to a nil-all draw with Saudi Arabia yesterday.



North Korea joined Australia, Japan and South Korea as Asia\'s automatic qualifiers.



Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the third-place finishers in the two Asian groups, will meet in playoffs on September 5 and 9.



The winner of that will then face Oceania champion New Zealand in October and November for a berth in next year\'s World Cup in South Africa.



Bahrain secured third yesterday by defeating Uzbekistan 1-0.