Ekhbary News Agency | 2026-06-03
The 2026 World Cup has once again seen a disappointing performance from Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nations, with all nine participating teams eliminated before the later stages. Despite an initial wave of optimism following South Korea's early victory and a subsequent period of undefeated draws, the tide turned sharply, leading to a cascade of losses.
AFC's Struggle on the Global Stage
Seven AFC teams—South Korea, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan—failed to advance past the group stage. Australia and Japan followed, eliminated in the round of 32. This outcome makes the AFC the first major confederation to have all its teams knocked out of the tournament. The statistics are stark: only three wins out of 29 matches played by AFC teams.
Read Also
- Global Oil Market Faces Intensifying Supply Crunch Amid Russian, Iranian Pressures
- Financial Adviser's Basic Knowledge Gap Raises Client Professionalism Concerns
- IRS Tax Liens Surge 36% Since 2022, Threatening US Taxpayers
- US States Intensify Competition for Skilled Workforce Amid Economic Shifts
- Senator Rounds Praises Fed Chair Warsh's Inflation Focus, Independence Stance
Bridging the Gap in Asian Football
Paul Williams, co-founder of The Asian Game, noted that while Asian football is competitive, a significant gap remains with global powerhouses. This sentiment is echoed by South Korean sports journalist Han June, who cited disorganization, tactical shortcomings, and a failure in overall management as key reasons for the national team's underperformance. The situation has led to significant backlash in South Korea, with calls for investigations into coaching appointments and resignations from top football officials.
