September was a month of transition between the Olympic tournament in August and the FIFA Women's Under-19 World Championship Thailand and the FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei 2004. Except, of course, for the ongoing FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™ qualifying campaign, which got up and running in Europe. Meanwhile, teams in Asia were busy disputing qualification for the FIFA Under-17 World Championship Peru 2005, with China overcoming surprise-package North Korea in Japan. North Korea also went through as runners-up and both will be joined in Peru by Qatar, who took third place at the expense of Iran.

Kenya were finally able to re-arrange dates for their preliminary round matches for FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™, having been suspended in June for government interference in the national game and then welcomed back into the fold in August after the setting-up of a normalisation committee.

FIFA took a strong stand in the Philippe Méxès case, suspending him for six weeks with his new club AS Roma for "unilateral breach of contract" with AJ Auxerre. It was a decision designed to help smaller clubs who often develop new talent only to have it lured away without compensation.

FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking
There was little change in the higher reaches of the standings, but September did see Honduras break into the top 50, climbing 12 places after a victory away to Costa Rica, one of the established powers in the North, Central American and Caribbean zone. Other successes in August allowed the Ivory Coast to move up six spots, with both Wales and Vietnam jumping seven.

2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™
Europe, the last continent to begin qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006™, got started with no less than 21 games on 4 September. There were a few surprises in store, not least the 2-2 draw achieved by Austria against England, Albania's 2-1 defeat of European champions Greece and France's lacklustre goalless draw with Israel. A few days later, though, the favourites bounced back to set up what promises to be an enthralling contest for places.

Key dates:
- September 2: Philippe Méxès suspended for six weeks
- September 16: Opening of the first official FIFA World Cup boutique
- September 30: Unveiling of the official FIFA World Cup poster


Look back on the year that was:

 The Top Stories...
  FIFA Women's World Ranking: USA within touching distance of top spot
  FIFA Futsal World Championship: From Netherlands to Chinese Taipei: 15 years of futsal
  FIFA Fair Play: Superstars turn out for "Samba Soccer Charity"
  Women’s: Rusty Steel Roses leave the past behind
  Zambia: Kalusha Bwalya: the legend goes on
  South American U-16 Championship: A new challenge for South America's stars of the future
  Refereeing: Instructing the instructors
  FIFA Organisation: FIFA President's Media Roundtable in London
  FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship: Silvia Neid: "We squandered the European Championship"
  Technical Development: Venglos: "Asia's footballing potential is boundless"
  First official 2006 FIFA World Cup™ shop opens in Berlin
  FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking: Rising star and Brazilian coach inspire Vietnam
  FIFA Fair Play: Everyone wins at the 'Global Peace Games'

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