ALARMING regression has been witnessed in the Asian teams at the FIFA World Cup. A record nine representatives from the continent went to the global showpiece that has been expanded to 48 teams for the ongoing edition. But just two, Japan and Australia, progressed beyond the group stage: at the last World Cup in Qatar, Japan, Australia and South Korea had advanced to the last 16. Japan’s journey in North America was ended by Brazil in the last 32, leaving just Australia — formerly part of the Oceania Football Confederation — flying the flag for the Asian Football Confederation. Australia face Egypt in the last 32. Even if they progress, there will be little to mask the struggles of the greater continent. The statistics make for grim reading: Asian teams won just three out of 27 matches in the group stage. Japan and Iran — who drew all three of their matches — were unbeaten but things were far worse for the likes of Iraq, debutants Uzbekistan and Jordan, who lost all three. South Korea and Qatar lost two matches each; Australia and Saudi Arabia, who will host the 2034 edition, lost once each.

At a tournament where eight of the best third-placed teams were also set to advance from the groups, it is a dismal situation and shows what Asia must do to mingle with the best. There have been inevitable comparisons with Africa, which saw nine of its 10 representatives make it past the group stage. It was at the 2018 World Cup that the AFC’s then technical director Andy Roxburgh pointed out that much was lacking at the youth level in Asian football and that improved competition was needed. The AFC has since changed formats for its youth-level tournaments, introducing a development-focused qualifying phase for the Under-20 Asian Cup. It remains to be seen whether it will produce outcomes that will groom the youth and help teams perform better at World Cups.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026