FIFA announced that the fourth-place country from CONCACAF, which covers North and Central America and the Caribbean, will meet the fifth-place South American country in a playoff to determine a berth for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Last time around, the CONCACAF playoff was against an Asian team, with Trinidad and Tobago defeating Bahrain to advance to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Bahrain is No. 97 on the latest FIFA rankings. By comparison, the current fifth-ranked South American squad is Colombia _ No. 34. Canada is currently ranked No. 82, ranked eighth in CONCACAF.

Mexico, U.S. and Costa Rica qualified directy for the 2006 tournament out of CONCACAF.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter also decided that the Oceania champion will play against Asia's fifth-best team, keeping the number of qualifiers from each region the same as last time.

``South America will have 4{ (places) and North America 3{ and they will have a playoff,'' Blatter said. ``Asia and Oceania will have five together. They will have a playoff in the region.''

Australia beat Uruguay in a two-leg playoffs to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Australia moved from Oceania to the Asian confederation this year.

Thirteen European countries and five African countries will play at the next World Cup. Host South Africa automatically qualifies.