10 teams, 0.5 places
The global qualification race is underway and progress has already been made along the road to 2010 South Africa following a preliminary tournament at the Pacific Games in Samoa. Of the nine countries who competed alongside the host nation, three advance to the next stage where they join with New Zealand in the OFC Nations Cup in a series of two-legged matches.

Those going through are the tournament winners New Caledonia and the team they beat in the final, Fiji. Also taking part are bronze-medal winners Vanuatu.

The winners and runners-up in the OFC Nations Cup then compete over two legs, with the victor advancing to a play-off against the AFC's fifth-placed team.