AFC general secretary Peter Velappan, pointing to Korea's feat plus Japan's progress to the second round, said on Wednesday his organisation would ask world governing body FIFA after Sunday's final to raise the number of guaranteed places for Asia.

In addition to co-hosts South Korea -- beaten 1-0 by Germany in Tuesday's first semi-final -- and Japan, both China and Saudi Arabia also qualified for this year's finals from Asia.

The continent also had the chance of another spot through a playoff with a European team but Iran lost out to Ireland.

"China and Saudi Arabia were unfortunate (at this year's finals). Asia's spots will have to be increased, considering the population and the number of television viewers on the continent,'' Velappan told the Kyodo news agency.