Asian countries are proving their mettle at the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026. For the first time, Asia has nine representatives at the tournament in North America. Pre-tournament concerns that the increased number of Asian teams might dilute competition have been allayed by first-round performances.
Strong First-Round Results
Six of the nine Asian teams secured encouraging results in their opening matches. South Korea came from behind to edge past Czechia 2-1. Australia defeated Turkiye, while Japan held highly rated Netherlands to an entertaining 2-2 draw with a last-gasp goal. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Iran each took points off higher-ranked opponents. Even debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan displayed brave attacking football.
Former Croatia coach Igor Stimac, who has coached in Iran, Qatar, and India, said, “I am not surprised at all. I have followed these teams and they showed a lot of heart with their performances. Jordan and Uzbekistan were enjoying football, playing their hearts out on the biggest stage. There was no parking the bus, regardless of the gulf in rankings between them and the opponents.”
Asian Football on the Rise
Shaji Prabhakaran, executive committee member at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), described the opening period as a “great opening period” for Asian football. “The start against European opponents was terrific. Asian football has been on the rise. Japan and Korea have plenty of players in Europe. They are dangerous and I expect at least one Asian team to go far. Japan have been very consistent. Their engaging draw against Netherlands would have given them confidence that they can give anyone a run for their reputation at the World Cup.”
Prabhakaran noted that Asian teams no longer fear higher-ranked European or South American opposition. This was evident in South Korea’s comeback win over Czechia, Australia’s victory against Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia’s hard-fought draw with Uruguay, which left Group H deadlocked after Cape Verde’s stunning draw against Spain.
Second-Round Setbacks
If the first round was full of hope, the second round proved to be a dampener. Qatar suffered a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Canada. South Korea lost to Mexico, and the United States handed Australia a 2-0 defeat. Despite these results, Prabhakaran remains optimistic. “Regardless of the results early in the second round, there is plenty at stake for Asian sides. All nine teams are in contention for a place in the round of 32 and I believe we will have representation, for sure, in the quarterfinals. From there, it’s anybody’s game.”
Outlook for Asian Teams
With 48 teams competing in the expanded World Cup, the group stage allows for more opportunities. Asian teams have shown they can compete with traditional powerhouses. The performances of Japan, South Korea, and Australia, in particular, highlight the depth of talent in the region. As the tournament progresses, Asian fans will be watching closely to see if their teams can advance to the knockout stages and potentially make history.
