The 2026 World Cup is expanded to 48 teams, opening up many opportunities for Asian football. FIFA allocated 8.5 slots for AFC - unprecedented. With Iraq defeating Bolivia in the Intercontinental play-off, Asia has up to 9 teams participating in this year's tournament.
However, after the group stage, most Asian teams have been eliminated, showing that their level of competition is much worse than many teams in other continents. Only the Japan and Australia teams passed the group stage with commendable form. The number of 2 teams entering the knockout round is even less than the 2022 World Cup, where Asia has 3 teams participating, Japan, South Korea and Australia, although the total number of continental teams participating is only 6.
The Iranian team was the most regrettable team to be eliminated. Non-professional reasons prevented them from having the best support in terms of logistics and movement. On the field, the Iranian team played hard and was only a millisecond away from the round of 32, before Austria's 3-3 equalizer against Algeria crushed their hopes.
The Korean national team started the 2026 World Cup like a dream when they beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening match. However, in the remaining two matches, they played poorly, made regrettable mistakes, thereby losing their right to self-determination. The defeat in this year's tournament is a heavy blow to coach Hong Myung-bo and his students.
The remaining teams of the continent, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, all left some highlights, but in general they are not strong enough to compete with other teams. Jordan and Uzbekistan have both scored goals in their first World Cup appearances. Qatar has their first point in this arena. Saudi Arabia has the right to self-determination, but the lack of "creativity in their playing style", as coach Donis shared, has caused them to be eliminated early.
Except for Oceania, when their only representative, the New Zealand team, was eliminated, other continents had many representatives participating in the round of 32. Africa was the most successful when 9/10 of their teams passed the group stage, except for the Tunisia team.
Among these, newcomer Cabo Verde made a special impression when they drew 0-0 with Spain and finished the group stage with 3 points, qualifying for the next round. Morocco is also another African team that left many impressions in the group stage, when they are unbeaten in 3 matches, equal points with Brazil.
13/16 European teams qualified for the round of 32. The three eliminated teams are Czech Republic, Turkey and Scotland. However, in the first round of the knockout stage, 6 teams in this continent had to eliminate each other through notable matches such as Spain vs Austria, Portugal vs Croatia and France vs Sweden.
In the CONCACAF region, 3/6 teams participating in the 2026 World Cup have tickets to continue - which are the 3 co-host teams of this year's tournament. Home field advantage promises to help the US, Canada and Mexico teams confidently create miracles.
5/6 South American teams passed the group stage, except for Uruguay. In the round of 32, Argentina is the team with the lightest schedule when facing newcomer Cabo Verde. Meanwhile, Brazil has to play against Japan, Paraguay against 4-time champion Germany, Colombia against Ghana, and Ecuador against host Mexico.
