Five ambitious Asian nations on course for the 2026 World Cup in North America

Doha, QATAR — It’s changing into one thing of a theme throughout most senior worldwide tournaments nowadays, that males or ladies, world or continental, the hole between the perceived haves and the have-nots, the heavyweights and the lightweights, is shrinking.

As the United States, Canada and Mexico put together to host an expanded, 48-team males’s World Cup in 2026, the goals of a few of world soccer’s lesser-known forces are coming to the fore. With Asia successfully doubling its representatives in 2026, this month’s Asian Cup is proving that the competitors for a berth at FIFA’s showpiece occasion is hotter than ever.

– Asian Cup: Home | Bracket | Groups | Team information
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Across the group phases in Doha, the historic bullyboys of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have all managed to progress by to the knockout phases, however they’ve discovered the going way more tough than they’ve in earlier years; South Korea’s attracts with Jordan and Malaysia and Japan’s shock 2-1 loss to Iraq a case in level.

In the trendy age of soccer, even the so-called minnows have entry to teaching and sports activities science that permits them to problem bigger footballing nations bodily and with ways designed to frustrate and include. But there have additionally been examples of bravery, of underdogs taking it as much as their opponents and never backing down.

“One thing that has surprised me a little bit has been the physical side of a lot of the nations now, they’re some big boys,” Australia coach Graham Arnold stated throughout the group phases. “One of the first things you’ve got to do is win that physical battle.”

The potential flow-on of this on a world stage is apparent. Since the World Cup expanded to 32 groups in 1998, 5 nations have had an nearly full monopoly on Asia’s 4 and a half locations on supply. Korea and Japan have certified for all seven tournaments since France ’98, Saudi Arabia and Iran for 5 every, whereas Australia has booked its place at each World Cup because it joined the AFC in 2006.

But with eight and a half slots accessible for the 2026 World Cup in North America — eight direct qualification locations and one spot in an inter-confederation playoff — we’re assured to see some contemporary faces amongst the acquainted ones subsequent time round. And whereas different groups may emerge from elsewhere to problem for a spot, a number of nations are placing their finest foot ahead at this Asian Cup and demonstrating they’re sturdy contenders to make their bow in 2026.

Ok, getting the apparent level out of the method, sure, Qatar have been already at the final World Cup, even when their three straight defeats and hasty group-stage exit made it a slightly ignominious stint. However, their presence at that match got here by advantage of their standing as hosts, and it represented the first time they’d ever stepped foot on soccer’s grandest stage. When it comes to truly doing it on the pitch, Qatar has by no means certified for the World Cup since its independence in 1971, getting in the neighborhood of being considerably shut on a couple of events, equivalent to France ’98, however by no means truly reserving their place.

That, nevertheless, ought to change in 2026, and there is a sturdy probability it will have finished so even with out the match’s growth to 48. Led by Al Sadd attacker Akram Afif, the Maroons have change into certainly one of Asia’s strongest groups in current years, changing into Asian champions in 2019 and placing collectively a powerful push to retain their crown as hosts of the match this yr.

Coach Tintín Márquez’s aspect could not have been at its finest thus far, nevertheless it has nonetheless progressed by to the knockout phases with out conceding a single aim throughout the previous fortnight: topping Group A after defeating China and Tajikistan after which dealing with Lebanon 3-0. And, as an apart, Hassan Al-Haydos’ aim to defeat China is certainly one of the finest you may ever see.

Hassan Al-Haydos with an absolute magnificence! 🤩

Qatar’s captain comes off the bench to attain a belter. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/thtlkhfrwX

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 22, 2024

They will face Palestine in the spherical of 16, with Uzbekistan or Thailand ready in the quarterfinals.

Iraq first went to a World Cup in Mexico in 1986, the place Raad Hammoudi led the Lions of Mesopotamia into video games in opposition to Paraguay, Belgium, and the host nation — falling 1-0 in the first and final fixture and happening 2-1 to the Belgians, Ahmed Radhi scoring what’s, to now, Iraq’s solely aim on soccer’s greatest stage. 1986 additionally marked the debut of Canada and Denmark at the World Cup however whereas each of these nations have been again since, the Iraqis have been compelled to look at from the sidelines each 4 years — coming closest to returning, funnily sufficient, the final time the World Cup was staged in the United States again in 1994.

Under Jesús Casas, Iraq has change into certainly one of the tales of the Asian Cup, taking a most of 9 factors from their three group stage fixtures, together with a 2-1 win over match favourites Japan.

Boasting a group that includes a number of gamers based mostly in Europe, and tapping into its diaspora to safe the providers of the likes of former Manchester United prospect, Zidane Iqbal, now with FC Utrecht, they are going to face Jordan in the spherical of 16, with Tajikistan or the United Arab Emirates ready after that.

“Football is fighting. You need to be competitive — if not, it is impossible to win a match,” Casas stated after their Japan win. “I choose the players that can be fighters, but good players too.

“The distinction at this stage with the nationwide group is you want a steadiness between preventing and high quality.”

One of Asia’s fastest-rising sides, Uzbekistan’s continued investment in its junior national team programs has consistently borne fruit at an underage level in recent years — defeating England to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Under-17 World Cup last year, Asian Under-20 champions the same year, and Asian runners-up at Under-23 level in 2022 — and the White Wolves are increasingly showing signs that they’re ready to translate that to success at a senior international level.

– Lynch: Why Uzbekistan could be the breakout stars at 2026 World Cup

Despite being without the services of Cagliari attacker (on loan from AS Roma) Eldor Shomurodov and losing figures such as Igor Sergeev and Sherzod Nasrullaev during the tournament proper, the Uzbeks were still able to progress from Group B as second-placed finishers behind Australia in Doha; still fielding the likes of Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and CSKA Moscow midfielder Abbosbek Fayzullaev.

Uzbekistan has never qualified for a World Cup since it broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991; its closest run ended in a controversial playoff against Bahrain in 2005 when they were eliminated on away goals following the annulment and replay of their first leg following a refereeing mistake. The White Wolves presently sit second in their World Cup qualifying group, comfortably accounting for Turkmenistan in their opening fixture before returning to Tashkent and staging a second-half fightback to secure a 2-2 draw with Iran, with Sergeev providing the 83rd-minute leveller.

Syria had to deal with a few pre-tournament blows when Mohammed Osman, Mardik Mardikian and Mohammad Al Hallak were all forced to withdraw from the squad with injuries. Nonetheless, veteran Argentine coach Héctor Cúper was able to steer the Qasioun Eagles through to the round of 16 while only conceding once — grabbing a draw with Uzbekistan, a narrow 1-0 loss to Australia in which the Socceroos were held to just a single shot on target, and a 1-0 win over India. It being the first time Syria had reached the knockouts of the Asian Cup, emotions were running high in the aftermath.

🇸🇾 Syria’s translator and interviewer couldn’t hold back the tears after they qualified for the Asian Cup Round of 16.

Manager Héctor Cúper wasn’t quite as emotional.pic.twitter.com/isREKgV1pT

— COPA90 (@Copa90) January 23, 2024

Cúper’s unit’s defensive fortitude will likely be put to a stiff check on Wednesday once they take on Iran in that knockout conflict, as will their potential to take care of it whereas discovering someway to beat Alireza Beiranvand in the Team Melli aim.

First trying to take action in 1950, Syria hasn’t had a lot success on a world stage thus far, both; by no means been to a World Cup in its historical past, coming agonisingly near advancing to a playoff with Honduras for a spot in Russia 2018, solely for the put up to disclaim Omar Al-Somah’s last-second free-kick in an AFC qualifying playoff with Australia, a couple of inches of timber between them advancing on away targets and sending them dwelling.

Of course, whereas there are promising indicators for Syrian soccer, there’s nonetheless work to do on the spherical to North America 2026. Placed in Group B for the second section of AFC qualifying, Syria acquired their marketing campaign off to a promising begin once they defeated North Korea 1-0 in Jeddah to begin their marketing campaign however have been subsequently well-handled by Japan in their subsequent fixture, happening 5-0 in opposition to the Samurai Blue.

With North Korea, their important rivals for development by to the subsequent section defeating Myanmar 6-1 in the different fixture that day, it despatched Syria down to 3rd in the group after the first worldwide window on aim distinction, including strain on them to get a powerful outcome once they journey to Yangon in March.

The UAE is one other nation with only a single look on soccer’s grandest stage to their identify: qualifying for the 1990 version earlier than falling to defeats in opposition to Colombia, eventual champions West Germany, and Yugoslavia. Ismaïl Mubarak and Thani Jumaa turned the first two males to attain for the Emiratis at that match however, sadly for them, they did so in opposition to a tide of 11 targets going the other way. They’ve come shut on a couple of events since, most notably falling to Australia in a single-legged playoff for the proper to face Peru for a spot in Qatar in 2022, nevertheless it thus far has eluded them.

But underneath the stewardship of Paulo Bento, who led South Korea to the knockout phases of the 2022 World Cup, Al Abyad has made a stable begin to each their Asian Cup marketing campaign and World Cup qualifying. On the street to North America 2026, wins over Nepal and Bahrain have them sitting alone atop Group H after two video games and, following a win over Hong Kong, a draw with Palestine and a 2-1 loss to Iran on the ultimate matchday of the group phases, they’ve completed second in Group C of the Asian Cup on aim distinction.

Featuring a squad made up completely of gamers plying their commerce in the UAE Pro League, they are going to now face fellow second-placed finishers Tajikistan in their spherical of 16 fixture, a contest they are going to be anticipated to win, earlier than going through Iraq or Jordan in the quarterfinals. A semifinal assembly with a heavyweight in Korea, Saudi Arabia, or Australia almost certainly then awaits in the event that they progress.