Six out of nine Asian teams have already debuted at the 2026 World Cup. South Korea and Australia have won their matches; Qatar, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran all have points; while Iraq, Jordan, and Uzbekistan are yet to play.
These results show a positive start. Looking deeper, what's noteworthy is not just the points, but also how Asian teams are entering the World Cup with less self-doubt than before.
There was a time when, whenever Asian football at the World Cup was mentioned, people often talked a lot about spirit, discipline, and effort. Those qualities remain, but this tournament also shows a different Asia: one that knows how to play football in more diverse styles.
South Korea's 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic wasn't just about perseverance. It was a game where they knew how to handle pressure, how to accelerate at the right moment, and had individuals capable of changing the course of the game. Australia's 2-0 win against Türkiye came from a game with less possession, but with organized defense and sharp counter-attacks.
Qatar was under intense pressure from Switzerland but still managed to salvage a point with a late equalizer. Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands, even coming back twice after falling behind, a valuable sign of their resilience against a strong opponent. Iran and Saudi Arabia also earned points in difficult matches.
A common thread among Asian teams is that they no longer take to the field solely to minimize goals conceded, nor do they allow the game to be entirely dictated by their stronger opponents. However, the first round should only be considered a reference point. The World Cup doesn't award qualification after a single good match. The World Cup tests a team's ability to maintain consistency, correct mistakes, manage their energy, and withstand pressure when opponents have data to study them.
Saudi Arabia drew with Uruguay in their opening match of Group H at the 2026 World Cup. (Photo: FIFA)
The lesson from Saudi Arabia's performance at the 2022 World Cup remains relevant. They caused a sensation by beating Argentina 2-1 in their opening match. But then Argentina went on to become world champions, while Saudi Arabia were eliminated in the group stage, finishing last. A big victory can be inspiring, but it doesn't guarantee a long-term success.
Therefore, the encouraging aspect of Asian football right now is not the declaration that it has reached world-class level. The encouraging aspect is that after the first round, none of the six teams that have played have been eliminated from the tournament. They still have a chance, a foundation, and more importantly, reason to believe that they are not just here at the World Cup to participate.
The second round of matches is where the real ambitions are determined. South Korea plays Mexico, Qatar plays Canada, Australia plays the USA, Japan plays Tunisia, Saudi Arabia plays Spain, and Iran plays Belgium. These are matches with completely different pressure because, after their positive debut, the Asian teams are no longer seen as mere pushovers.
If they continue to score points, the Asian teams will move from a good start to having the right to dream big. If they run out of steam, even a perfect opening match will only be a memorable moment. The World Cup is always unforgiving; a team is not judged by one brilliant performance, but by its ability to survive through numerous challenges in multiple matches.
However, even now, we can emphasize that Asian teams are solid enough to give the impression that the gap is closing. And, they have overcome one crucial thing – self-doubt!
Source: https://nld.com.vn/bong-da-chau-a-khong-con-tu-ti-196260616213125171.htm
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