China’s hopes for a spot in the World Cup came to an end as Uzbekistan and Jordan achieved qualification milestones, seizing the opportunity presented by the increased number of slots available for Asian teams at the expanded 48-team tournament set in North America next year.
On a significant Thursday evening filled with decisive matches, South Korea confirmed its 11th consecutive World Cup appearance with a 2-0 victory over Iraq. Meanwhile, Australia left it late to secure a 1-0 win against Japan, which had already qualified, whereas China faced disappointment with a narrow 1-0 loss to Indonesia.
For Uzbekistan, a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates sufficed to earn the second automatic qualification slot in Group A, following Iran. The increase to eight guaranteed slots for Asian teams, from just four in the 2022 Qatar edition, has opened up opportunities for nations like Uzbekistan. Their squad may mostly feature domestic players, but also boasts international talent such as Roma’s Eldor Shomurodov and Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov.
South Korea and Jordan both secured their positions in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, by qualifying from Group B. Jordan, a newcomer to the tournament, clinched their spot with Ali Olwan’s hat-trick in a 3-0 triumph over Oman, a feat built on their impressive Asian Cup performance earlier in the year. Jordan’s strength also lies in the experience carried by players like Mousa Tamari, who plays for Rennes in France.
In Group C, China’s dreams of returning to the World Cup were dashed when a first-half penalty by Ole Romeny in Jakarta resulted in their elimination. China has not participated in the tournament since 2002 when it was hosted in Asia by South Korea and Japan, who, as hosts, bypassed continental qualifiers.
The perplexity surrounding China’s continued absence from the world stage, despite its vast population and rich history in Olympic sports, persists. Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic, tasked with reviving China’s fortunes, shared his resignation over the campaign’s outcome. According to domestic reports, Ivankovic acknowledged his role in the setback, stating, “The team has strived for this goal for over two decades. While hopeful that progressing from this challenging group would bolster our chances, we could not achieve it. I, as head coach, must take significant responsibility.”
With just one match remaining in the current Asian qualifying round, China has managed only two wins out of nine fixtures, positioning them at the bottom of a pool that includes formidable opponents like Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia.
Ivankovic, however, remains optimistic about the future, emphasizing the fresh talent infusing the squad with energy, which promises a bright outlook.
Following the draw in Abu Dhabi, Uzbekistan supporters celebrated their qualification with gratitude toward goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov, who delivered crucial saves. In addition to the six Asian teams securing automatic qualification, the UAE and Qatar, which surprised Iran with a 1-0 victory, will proceed to the next qualification stage. Six teams will compete for the remaining two World Cup seats allotted for 2026.
South Korea’s lead in the group was strengthened by Ali Al-Hamadi receiving a first-half red card for a high footed challenge. Then, Kim Jin-gyu netted the first goal after the hour mark before Oh Hyeon-gyu sealed the 2-0 result, ensuring Jordan’s place as a guaranteed second.
Palestine continued their pursuit of a top-four finish by defeating Kuwait 2-0, leaving them one point shy of Oman, currently fourth.
Meanwhile, Australia’s World Cup qualification journey was propelled by Aziz Behich’s last-minute goal, securing a 1-0 victory over Japan in Perth. The dramatic win marked their first success against Japan in 16 years, putting them on the verge of earning a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Reflecting on the achievement, Behich echoed the team’s hard work, “The final whistle brought immense joy. It was a hard-fought game.” To clinch their World Cup spot officially, Australia must avoid a significant defeat in their next fixture against Saudi Arabia, who recently secured a 2-0 win over Bahrain.
With the World Cup qualifying paths nearing completion, Asia has seen newcomers rise while historic teams face future recalibration for global soccer’s most prestigious competition.