Mehdi Mahdavikia: Opened the scoring against Iraq (StuForster/Allsport)

China booked their place a couple of weeks ago, but Group A is going to the wire. Iran are currently in the driving seat, but there have been enough twists and turns in the Asian qualifying programme to give the Saudis hope.

Last week, Iran went to the top of the group with a 2-1 win over fierce rivals Iraq - who sacked their coach after the game. Striker Mehdi Mahdavikia opened the scoring for Iran in the 27th minute from a pass by Ali Karimi but Iraq's Qahtan Chathir equalised in the 52nd minute from a corner.

Iran sealed victory in the 71st minute when Karimi scored from a Mahdavikia pass, sending 100,000 flag-waving spectators at Tehran's Azadi Stadium wild with joy.

Iranian police made a 'large number' of arrests after major riots broke out following the game. 'We have arrested a large number of people who disrupted public peace and order and disrupted traffic,' colonel Mohammad Mehdi Sadouqi said on state television.

Celebrating youths went on the rampage across the capital after the game, throwing stones at shops, banks and public buildings and breaking windows. They also attacked fire engines and cars and smashed public telephone booths and automatic bank teller machines.

There was also trouble in the group's other game, with Thailand's game against Bahrain abandoned after a fire broke out in the stadium with the visitors a goal to the good.

The match was rearranged for Tuesday, and the teams played out a 1-1 draw. The Thais took the lead on 21 minutes. Bahrain keeper Abdul Rahman Abdul Karim failed to gather a cross, and while Thai captain Kiatisuk Senamuang's shot was blocked by a defender, striker Worrawoot Srimaka tucked in the rebound from a tight angle.

The Thais hopes were dashed four minutes into injury time when Bahrain's Hussain Ali Ahmed unleashed an 18-metre volley that crashed off the bar and went in.

Iran lead Saudi Arabia by a point going into Sunday's deciders and travel to Bahrain while the Saudis host Thailand. If Iran lose, Saudi Arabia will only need a draw to top the group.

In Group B the battle is on for the runners-up spot. Uzbekistan were in with a good chance of taking the play-off spot until they self-destructed in Oman last weekend. Two goals up through Fevzi Davletov and Nabil Ashoor, all looked to be going well.

But Oman came back strongly in the second half to score two quick goals through Yakoub Juma and Fouzi Bashir. Juma added the crucial third in the 83rd minute before substitute defender Badr al-Mahrooqi scored the last a minute from time.

That means Uzbekistan have to win in China to stand any chance of progressing. The United Arab Emirates currently sit second and need just a point a home to Oman to earn a play-off with either Iran or Saudi Arabia.

The winner of the play-off will of course then face the Republic of Ireland for a place in the finals.

Hugo Sanchez: Honduras can expect a frightening time (DavidLeah/Allsport)

Meanwhile, former Mexico international Hugo Sanchez entered a war of words with Honduras on Wednesday, claiming the Central Americans would tremble with fear when they visit the Azteca Stadium for next month's decisive World Cup qualifier.

Mexico need only a draw at the famous arena to make sure of the final CONCACAF place at next year's World Cup. Costa Rica and the United States have already qualified. Defeat in the November 11 game will eliminate the Mexicans let Honduras in.

Honduran coach Ramon Maradiaga began what promises to be a long verbal battle on Tuesday when he said his team were better individually and collectively than the Mexicans. He also promised Honduras would 'silence 120,000 people'.

Sanchez, now coach of Mexico City club UNAM, replied: 'Every time teams come to play at the Azteca, their little feet tremble.'

In Europe, Germany midfielder Sebastian Deisler has flown to the United States for surgery on his right knee and will almost certainly miss his country's World Cup qualifying play-offs against Ukraine next month.

The gifted 21-year-old Hertha Berlin player was injured during Hertha's 4-0 Bundesliga defeat by Hamburg SV on Saturday and will be out for four to six weeks.

Japanese World Cup organisers (JAWOC) are promising to implement tougher security measures at next year's finals following the September 11 attacks on the United States.

Extra safety procedures Japanese organisers are likely to introduce include the use of metal detectors and X-ray equipment to check bags at the entrances of Japan's 10 World Cup stadia, JAWOC security chief Takahisa Ishida said on Friday.

'We understand the need to tighten security across the board. Checks will be very tight. There will be at least 700 security officials at each game to keep an eye out for anything suspicious,' he said.

Japanese organisers are set to increase their security budget by 25 per cent to £13m as a result of the attacks on New York and Washington.

Also, insurers AXA expect to reach a new agreement with world soccer's governing body FIFA on cover for the 2002 World Cup after cancelling a deal following the attacks in the United States, the company said on Monday.

'We expect there will be a new agreement in one form or the other,' an Axa Colonia spokeswoman revealed. 'The parameters have changed so this could work through into higher premiums but it's still too early to say.'

Axa said the risk that the event would have to be called off had increased significantly since the September 11 attacks and due to the possibility of further incidents in the wake of U.S.-led military action against targets in Afghanistan.

Finally, soccer fans in Britain will be able to watch the next two World Cup final tournaments free on BBC and ITV, after a joint deal said to be worth between £160m and £175m was finally agreed.

German media company Kirch held the rights to both tournaments - in Korea and Japan next year, and in Germany in 2006 - but their valuation of the rights had been significantly higher than that of the British broadcasters.

There were fears that England's campaign in next summer's finals would not be available for viewers. Now, after more than three years of negotiations, BBC and ITV can finally begin to plan for their Gary Lineker and Des Lynam-led schedules.

The games next summer may kick off during the British morning rush-hour, but ITV's head of sport, Brian Barwick, said of the deal: 'This is very good news. It has been a long, vibrant negotiation.

'Being able to move into a position to show the 2006 World Cup finals as well was critical to the negotiations, and BBC and ITV have paid what we believe to be a fair market price for significant sporting properties.'

The full qualifying picture

UEFA (13 or 14 to qualify)
Russia
Portugal
Denmark
Sweden
Poland
Croatia
Spain
Italy
England
Solvenia or Romania
Czech Republic or Belgium
Turkey or Austria/Israel
Ukraine or Germany
Republic of Ireland or Iran/Saudi Arabia/UAE/Uzbekistan

CONMEBOL (four or five to qualify)
Argentina
Plus three from Paraguay, Ecuador, Brazil and Uruguay
Paraguay/Ecuador/Brazil/Uruguay/Colombia or Australia

CONCACAF (three to qualify)
Costa Rica
USA
Mexico or Honduras

AFRICA (five to qualify)
Cameroon
Nigeria
Senegal
Tunisia
South Africa

ASIA (two or three to qualify)
China
Saudi Arabia or Iran
Iran/Saudi Arabia/UAE/Uzbekistan or Republic of Ireland

OCEANIA (none or one to qualify)
Australia or Paraguay/Ecuador/Brazil/Uruguay/Colombia

This week's games:

Oct 19 - Asia - United Arab Emirates v Oman
Oct 19 - Asia - Uzbekistan v China PR
Oct 21 - Asia - Bahrain v Iran
Oct 21 - Asia - Saudi Arabia v Thailand