 Thirteen teams competed in the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2007 WC, Guam and India joining the competition for the first time.Another new format was tried; this one more complex than previously; The first round, played in 2005, consisted of four "divisions"; 1, 2, 3a and 3b.In the second round, the top two of "Division One (2005)" and the winner of "Division Two (2005)" would form "Division One (2006)", whilst the bottom team of "Division One (2005)", the second (of three) in "Division Two (2005)", and the winner of a play-off between the "Division 3a (2005)" and "Division 3b (2005)" champions would form "Division Two (2006)".