If Asia wants an extra automatic berth to future World Cups, then it will have to earn it, FIFA president Sepp Blatter told the Japanese media on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Japanese Press Center in Tokyo, Blatter confirmed that as the winner of this year's World Cup won't automatically qualify for the 2006 tournament in Germany, there will be an extra berth available to allocate to one of the six confederations.

Both the Asian confederation, which has four berths in this year's World Cup, and the Oceania confederation, which has none, are hoping to capitalize on this extra slot.

Asia was angry that it was only allocated two slots for the first World Cup in Asia in addition to the berths awarded to cohosts Japan and South Korea, while Oceania is permanently miffed that it isn't entitled to a berth at all. Currently, the Oceania winner plays off against a team from another confederation.

However, Blatter said that no decision had been taken yet on the allocation of the extra berth and if Asia wants it, it will have to earn it.

"Playing in Asia, the world and Asia expect the Asian participants -- Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and China -- to perform at the highest level," Blatter emphasized. "We expect a strong performance from Asia because they are playing at home and (their results) will have an influence on the allocation of berths for the 2006 World Cup in Germany."

"Already, one of the confederations has asked for this extra slot -- Oceania has no automatic entry and this is not correct. It is a full confederation and should have an entry to the World Cup.

"If Asia wants more, they have to compete not only on the field of play, but also in the sports political scene and try to find enough arguments to make sure that when the 31 slots are given out, Asia has a strong argument so that they can legitimately ask for one slot more."

On other matters, Blatter reassured Japan that there would be no fallout from the possible collapse of the Kirch media group, which holds TV rights to the World Cup.

"If I don't have a solution to an emergency situation then I'm in the wrong position," Blatter joked. "If Kirch is declared bankrupt before the World Cup, we already have in place FIFA Media Limited, which we formed one year ago at the same time as the marketing division, as provision in case something would go wrong."

FIFA Marketing took over the marketing and licensing aspects of the World Cup from the ISL/ISMM group after it collapsed last year.

"We have taken steps so that the production of all 64 matches will be guaranteed," Blatter added. "So the covering on TV for the World Cup is ensured in all the worst scenarios."

Blatter confirmed that 1.3 billion Swiss francs ($850 million) owed by Kirch is underwritten by "two bank guarantees in Swiss banks and under Swiss law those guarantees cannot be revoked. So there is no danger of the World Cup not being on television," he confirmed.

On the question of cohosting, Blatter seems to have come around to the positive aspects, where once he was skeptical. He denied once again that he was not a supporter of cohosting.

"How could I be against cohosting when it was a decision made by FIFA's executive committee," he stated. "Cohosting definitely has more positive aspects than negative. The only negative aspect we can see now are the costs; there are twice the expenses and only one income.

"But the positive aspects are that both countries will have 10 wonderful stadiums; they will have fully trained professionals to run future competitions; and from a cultural aspect, both nations have come closer together.

"The door for future cohosting, which could next take place in 2010 in Africa, is still open, but before going on to a second experience, we have to evaluate the results of this first experience."

On other points, Blatter said:

* he was confident the World Cup would be safe in both South Korea and Japan;
* he would travel to North Korea in May;
* Afghanistan would be resurrected as a member of FIFA.