World Cup is approaching next year and qualifying is well underway. Most of the biggest national teams around the world are yet to book a spot in the first 48-team World Cup ever, after FIFA decided to expand from the old 32-team format that had been in place since the 1998 World Cup.

Uzbekistan and Jordan made history on Thursday by qualifying for their first World Cup, while the pair will be joined in next year's tournament by perennial participants South Korea.In Group B, South Korea confirmed their place in an 11th straight World Cup by defeating Iraq 2-0 in Basra.

By Michael Church HONG KONG (Reuters) -Uzbekistan and Jordan progressed to the World Cup finals for the first time on Thursday as regular qualifiers South Korea also booked their place in North America next year with a 2-0 win over Iraq in Basra.