Australia took an important step Wednesday in its bid to leave the Oceania soccer federation and join the Asian group.

Asian soccer chiefs unanimously agreed to the move, but Australia still must resign from Oceania, apply to the Asian group and receive approval from soccer's world governing body.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot declined to indicate his group's response. FIFA regulations state that in "exceptional circumstances" a confederation might grant membership to an association from another continent.

Australia this month said it wanted to leave the 11-member Oceania group. It is looking for wider exposure, tougher competition, higher revenues and a chance at direct World Cup qualification.

Now, the top nation from Oceania qualification must play a home-and-away play off against the fifth-placed South American team to make the World Cup. Asia has four automatic spots, and the fifth team in qualifying enters a playoff against a European nation for another spot.

Asian Football Confederation president Mohamed bin Hammam declined to say how long it might take for Australia to become a member, but indicated it might not be before next year. He added that "arrival of Australia is going to increase the image and standards of Asian soccer."

Australia missed the final qualifying hurdle for the last two World Cups, losing to Iran for the 1998 World Cup and to Uruguay for the 2002 tournament.

Oceania is the smallest of FIFA's six confederations and the only one without direct entry to the World Cup. It was formed in 1966, two years after the Asian confederation rejected applications from Australia and New Zealand. With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, Oceania is composed mainly of small Pacific island nations.

(Agencies)