2026 FIFA World Cup: Global Football Carnival Kicks Off, Asia Makes History with Nine Teams

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 12 to July 20. It marks the first time in World Cup history that the tournament is co-hosted by three nations and the inaugural edition expanded to 48 teams, a milestone event. With 12 groups and 104 matches, its scale and influence reach an all-time high. Teams from 32 countries and regions worldwide have gone through fierce qualifying rounds, and finally 48 strong squads gather in North America to compete for the FIFA World Cup Trophy.

The Asian teams qualified for this tournament span East Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and Oceania (Australia is affiliated with the Asian Football Confederation), including Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Uzbekistan and Jordan. Among them, Uzbekistan and Jordan have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in their histories, achieving historic breakthroughs; Iraq returns to the World Cup stage after a 40-year absence, last participating in 1986.

As traditional powerhouses in Asian football, Japan, South Korea and Iran rank among the world’s top teams. Japan has qualified for the World Cup eight consecutive times, aiming for the championship. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have continuously improved their competitiveness by investing heavily in youth training and league development in recent years; Australia, with its tough style of play, has become a stable force in Asian football.

From three Asian teams advancing to the Round of 16 in the Qatar World Cup to nine teams stepping onto the world stage this time, the overall strength of Asian football has steadily improved. In a diverse competitive landscape, Asian teams are expected to achieve new successes and write a new chapter for Asian football. 

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