Kuala Lumpur: Australia are expected to join the Asian Football Confederation (AFP) as early as 2006 after winning the backing of the Fifa, AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam said on.

“When Fifa officially decides this and when the AFC congress also approves the entry of Australia, the first competition Australia will compete in Asia will be in 2006,” Hammam said after the body’s executive council meeting here.

Australia do not have a direct qualifying spot for the World Cup and have sought to leave the Oceania Football Confederation to join the AFC in the hopes of making World Cup qualifying easier. (AFP)