AFC's Director of Competitions, Michelle Chai, conducts the 2010 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers draw on Friday in Kuala Lumpur. AP-Yonhap

By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter

South Korea is grouped with regional heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran in the final qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In a draw, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday, top-seeded Huh Jung-moo's side belongs to Group B with North Korea and United Arab Emirates (UAE) along with the two Middle East nations.

In Group A, Pim Verbeek-led Australia was fortunate enough to have a relatively easy draw with Japan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan and Qatar.

The final tournament starts on Sept. 6 until June 17 next year, and the top two teams from each group of the stage will advance.

A third-placed nation will compete for another berth against a top-ranked country from Oceania in the playoffs.

Saudi Arabia ranks 54th in the world and is 5-3 with six draws against Korea.

The 45th-ranked Korea has never beaten the oil-rich country since 1989.

Another Asian football power Iran has reached the World Cup three times in 1978, 1998 and 2006.

Although its ranking is lower than that of South Korea by three notches in No. 48, their international match fixtures are 8-8 and five indecisions.

Recently, the North Korean squad, No 118 in the FIFA rankings, met the South on three occasions, one at the East Asian Championship in February and two in the World Cup qualifying rounds, and they tied in all the matches.

The UAE is the only breather in the group for the Taekuk Warriors.

The squad, coached by French Bruno Metsu, who led Senegal to the quarterfinals at the 2002 World Cup, has managed to win twice, while losing five times along with five draws.

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr