Staff Reporter
SEVERAL Asian Football Confederation (AFC) teams have secured qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams and be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
A total of nine AFC nations will participate, including established contenders Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq, as well as debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan.
The expanded tournament marks a historic shift in the competition’s format and global reach, with Asia increasing its representation under FIFA’s new qualification structure.
Australia will make their seventh appearance, aiming to improve on previous Round of 16 finishes. The Socceroos qualified after a strong campaign that included key wins over Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Iran also secured a seventh World Cup appearance and will be targeting a first-ever knockout-stage progression after dominating much of their qualifying campaign.
Iraq return to the World Cup for only the second time, 40 years after their 1986 debut, after securing qualification through the intercontinental play-off tournament.
Japan were the first AFC side to qualify, sealing an eighth consecutive appearance after a flawless qualifying run, including wins over regional heavyweights.
Jordan will make their World Cup debut after a breakthrough qualifying campaign that included strong attacking performances and consistent results in the final round.
Qatar, hosts of the 2022 edition, return through qualification for only the second time in their history after a disciplined and steady campaign.
Saudi Arabia continue their strong World Cup record with a seventh appearance, having progressed through a tightly contested qualifying group.
South Korea extended their remarkable streak to 11 consecutive World Cup appearances, qualifying unbeaten through the final Asian round.
Uzbekistan will make their historic debut after finally breaking through following several near-misses in previous qualification cycles.
The 2026 tournament will mark the first World Cup in history staged across three nations and the first expanded to 48 teams, with Asia playing a significantly larger role than in previous editions.
The draw is expected to feature several high-profile fixtures involving AFC teams, with all nations now preparing for final squad selections and pre-tournament preparations.
Photos: FIFA
