A record nine Asian nations took part in the FIFA World Cup 2026, and while there were some high points along the way, it was ultimately an underwhelming tournament for the AFC representatives.
Australia and Japan made it to the Round of 32, where each suffered agonisingly close defeats. Still, five other sides -- Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan -- finished winless and bottom of their groups. Meanwhile, IR Iran and Korea Republic narrowly failed to progress among the best third-place finishers.
Here, we look back on the positives and negatives for each side, highlight players who could be set to play key roles in four years' time, and consider what comes next as teams aim to regroup after a chastening experience.
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Australia's Jackson Irvine with teammates look dejected after the match as Australia are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters
One of just two AFC nations to advance from the group stage, the Socceroos did so for a second consecutive tournament. The positives were a robust defensive showing, where they conceded just three goals in four matches, as well as the emergence of some impressive young talent. 22-year-old goalkeeper Patrick Beach, 18-year-old Lucas Herrington, 21-year-old midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler and 20-year-old forward Nestory Irankunda could be long-term options to build the team around.
Conversely, setting aside an own goal in the nation’s extra-time loss to Egypt in the Round of 32, they only managed to score twice in four outings. Finding a consistent No9 remains an issue as Australia, still under the guidance of Tony Popovic, head to the upcoming Asian Cup aiming for a second continental title.
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Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh waves to fans after the match. Photo: Reuters
Having faced numerous obstacles in both qualification and then at the World Cup itself, Iran came as close as you can to securing a Round of 32 berth without quite doing so -- finishing ninth in the rankings of third-placed nations when only the top eight progressed.
Along with Spain, Iran were the only nation not to lose a match at the tournament, after they drew 2-2 with New Zealand, 0-0 with Belgium and then 1-1 in a late thriller with Egypt.
The Iran Football Federation has confirmed that head coach Amir Ghalenoei will remain in place through at least the upcoming Asian Cup, with the 61-year-old telling local media that a ‘transition’ around lowering the age profile of the team will begin shortly.
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Iraq's Ali Jasim and teammates applaud their fans after the match. Photo: Reuters
Iraq may have exited at the group stage at their first World Cup in 40 years, but they impressed at times in what was arguably the toughest of all groups. Having started brightly against Norway, they fell apart after the break, and went on to suffer further defeats against France and Senegal.
Head coach Graham Arnold is currently in discussions about extending his contract with the IFA, and, having put nine of the 12 goals the team conceded down to ‘individual errors’, he can see plenty of positives to take going forward.
Veteran forward Aymen Hussein scored just the second goal at the global finals for the Lions of Mesopotamia in their opener with Norway, but with a core group of players in their mid-20s, the signs are positive that Iraq can show even more four years down the line.
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Japan's Shuto Machino with teammates look dejected after Brazil's Gabriel Martinelli scores their second goal. Photo: Reuters
Hajime Moriyasu and his players headed to North America declaring the aim was to return with the trophy, but while a dramatic comeback against the Netherlands and a biggest-ever World Cup win against Tunisia served as highlights, a meek defeat after taking the lead against Brazil in the Round of 32 saw them eliminated at the first knockout stage for the third consecutive tournament.
Local media reports suggest the coach is set to sign a contract extension until the conclusion of the next Asian Cup, after which his replacement will be charged with continuing the team’s evolution. The likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Takefusa Kubo and Ayase Ueda could still all be options for 2030, but the wealth of young talent being produced in Japan will also need to be harnessed to steer them to greater heights.
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Jordan's Mahmoud Almardi looks dejected after the match. Photo: Reuters
Jordan exited their debut World Cup bottom of Group J after three straight defeats, but they were competitive in those losses to Austria, Algeria and then finalists Argentina. Indeed, they managed to score in all three outings, with Ali Olwan grabbing the nation’s first World Cup goal in the 3-1 opening defeat against Austria.
Following the Nashama’s exit, it was announced that head coach Jamal Sellami would be departing his post, with Badou Zaki appointed the day before the World Cup final.
The former goalkeeper captained Morocco at the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where his nation fell 1-0 to West Germany in the Round of 16. His initial challenge will come at the forthcoming Asian Cup, where Jordan are looking to build on a runners-up finish from 2024.
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South Korea's Bae Jun-ho, Son Heung-min, Eom Ji-sung, Kim Moon-hwan and teammates applaud their fans after the match. Photo: Reuters
Everything started so well for Korea Republic, as Hong Myungbo's side kicked off with a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia in Guadalajara. That was to be as good as it got though, with the Taegeuk Warriors then suffering back-to-back 1-0 defeats against co-hosts Mexico and South Africa to find themselves eliminated at the group stage for the third time in their last four appearances.
Following that disappointment Hong has departed, and with star Son Heungmin now 34 it looks like Korea will be requiring something of a rebuild -- with the onus on core talents like Lee Kangin to come to the fore as the nation targets success at the upcoming Asian Cup and a better showing on the global stage in 2030.
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Qatar's Mohamed Manai, Issa Laye Akram Afif, Ayoub Aloui and Abdulaziz Hatem look dejected after the match as Qatar are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Having become the first host nation to fail to make it through the group stage in 2022, reigning Asian champions Qatar were desperate to put in a better showing in North America, and while they were unable to seal a spot in the Round of 32 they did at least claim their first World Cup point after snatching a dramatic injury-time equaliser in their opening game against Switzerland.
Defeats to co-hosts Canada and then Bosnia and Herzegovina prevented Julen Lopetegui’s side from progressing from Group B, but they have the perfect opportunity to bounce back from that disappointment in January when they aim to become continental champions for the third time in a row.
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Saudi Arabia's Firas Al-Buraikan and Mohammed Al-Owais looks dejected after the match as Saudi Arabia are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters
On the face of it, exiting the World Cup with your only defeat coming at the hands of dominant champions Spain is nothing to be ashamed of. However, after their historic win over Argentina in 2022 the Green Falcons will have plenty of regrets having drawn their other two games against Uruguay and the tournament's surprise package Cape Verde.
It was ultimately a lack of attacking quality that held Georgios Donis' side back, with their only goal coming after Abdulelah Al Amri stabbed in a rebound in the opening draw with Uruguay. For the time being it looks as though the Greek coach will remain in charge for the upcoming Asian Cup, but, as with several of the other AFC sides something of a rebuild will be required, centred upon players such as midfield starlet Musab Al Juwayr.
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Uzbekistan's Rustam Ashurmatov and Khojiakbar Alijonov look dejected after the match. Photo: Reuters
The World Cup debutants were eliminated at the group stage after three consecutive defeats, but while results were disappointing there were some positives for the White Wolves. Abbosbek Fayzullaev etched his name into Uzbekistan football history by scoring their first-ever World Cup goal in the 3-1 loss to Colombia, for instance, while Eldor Shomurodov’s sublime effort against Congo DR was voted as the group-stage entry for the Hyundai Goal of the Tournament.
Fabio Cannavaro’s side stayed true to their technical, hard-working approach throughout, and while that ultimately contributed to them tiring a little as games wore on, the likes of 18-year-old Bekhruz Karimov now know what it takes to compete at the global level and will be desperate to build upon these first steps in four years’ time.
