ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - A record 204 teams have entered the first stage of the 2010 World Cup.
That includes Montenegro, likely to be voted the 208th member of FIFA at a meeting in May.
FIFA said Friday that only the Philippines, Bhutan, Brunei and Laos have no chance of participating in the 19th edition in South Africa.
In 2002, a previous-record 199 teams registered for the regional qualifications, but only 193 took part. While for last year's tournament, 198 teams registered and 194 played.
The first qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup will take place when the Oceania federation uses the South Pacific Games from 25 Aug.-8 Sept. as a preliminary tournament.
Why shock ! They were not good enough to beat neighboring countries...got beaten up and humiliated in Singapore...They need to concentrate in training and prepare for SEA Games in Laos in 2009........