FIFA President Joseph Blatter has expressed regret over how the national soccer failed to make it into the second round of the World Cup.

In an interview with the official FIFA homepage of the World Cup Thursday, Blatter said Asia could well have had at least one representative in the round of 16, adding South Korea very nearly made it.

He said it was a shame that no Asian team made the second round, but said it was an accident and that soccer continues to develop in the region.