Bermuda Football Association chiefs will discuss whether or not the nation is to set out on the long road to the 2006 World Cup at a meeting next week.

Qualifying for the tournament in North and Central America and the Caribbean would start in mid-January under a proposal by the region's governing body.

First-round byes have been eliminated in the region, meaning Bermuda would have to play up to 20 qualifiers to reach the 32-nation field for the 2006 tournament in Germany,

Thirty-four teams are entered in the CONCACAF region, which receives three automatic berths plus the chance to earn a fourth in a play-off.

In the proposal submitted to the international ruling body, the first round would have ten groups of three teams and two groups of two, with the 12 winners advancing. The pairings will be determined during the World Cup draw on December 5.

As in qualifying for the last two World Cups, there would be three groups of four in the semi-finals, with the top two teams in each advancing to the final round.

BFA general secretary David Sabir told The Royal Gazette yesterday: “We have a meeting next week at which we will be discussing all these details. As per the president's request we will then speak openly with media.”

Sabir added that Bermuda “was signed up” but he said he had been asked by the BFA president, Larry Mussenden, to hold off on making any further announcement.