South Korea is the first Asian country to make seven straight appearances at the World Cup soccer finals.

The national team Saturday qualified for a berth in the South Africa tournament next year with a 2-0 win over host United Arab Emirates in Dubai.

South Korea is the sixth country to make seven straight apperances in soccer's biggest spectacle. The nation debuted in the tournament in 1954 in Switzerland and has played in every event since World Cup 1986 in Mexico.

Japan and Saudi Arabia have each reached the tournament four straight times.

Before qualifying Saturday, South Korea had been just the ninth country to make the World Cup six straight times.