Preview of the Asian teams in the 2026 World Cup, who can advance to the top 16 of Japan, South Korea and South Korea?

The number of Asian places in the 2026 World Cup has increased from 4.5 to 8.5, and the biggest beneficiary of the expansion is the AFC. A total of 8 teams from Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates have directly qualified for the main draw, and there are 2 play-off places. The Chinese team failed again in the Asian qualifiers after 2002. This article focuses on the prospects of Asian teams, judging where each team is going from four perspectives: grouping, lineup, coaching, and recent status.

Article based on official data as of early May 2026. FIFA rankings are taken from the latest issue. The player list refers to each team's most recent national team training session. Predictions are for reference only. The World Cup is always full of surprises. The purpose of this article is to sort out the highlights of Asian teams and it is not a 100% prediction.

Japan, the most promising seeded team in Asia

日本是亚洲队 FIFA 排名第一，本届入围第二档种子球队。和卡塔尔世界杯时一样作为亚洲领头羊出战。 Coach Mori Yasuichi has led the team for a complete cycle, and the player lineup is deep. Kaoru Mikasa, Takehide Kubo, Ritsu Doyasu, Junya Ito, and Kiryo Ueda form a complete attacking group.

战术上日本队这届打更现代的高位逼抢加快速反击。预选赛 7 战全胜进 26 球失 0 球，碾压亚洲对手。和欧洲一流二流球队的友谊赛战绩也不错，2025 年 11 月 3 比 1 击败巴西在本土。

Where you go depends on the luck of the group.如果避开法国、英格兰、西班牙等顶级强队，进 8 强不夸张。预选赛防守如此稳固在世界杯小组赛大概率出线。 Personally, I am optimistic about reaching the top 8.

South Korea Son Heung-min’s last term

This World Cup for the South Korean team is generally considered to be Son Heung-min's last World Cup. The 33-year-old Son Heung-min is still the main force at Tottenham and has led the national team for many years. In addition to Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Gang-in, and Kim Min-jae form the core lineup. The average age is 27 years old, which is prime time.

After coach Klinsmann dismissed get out of class, Hong Myung-bo took over. Hong Myung-bo is a legendary defender in South Korea and the main force in the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup. The leadership style is relatively conservative, emphasizing defensive counterattacks and set pieces. The results in the qualifiers were mediocre, and they need to show their strength in Group H after entering the main match.

South Korea exited in the round of 16 last time out. This time Qatar also aims to advance to the top 16 as the bottom line. The most ideal is to use Sun Heung-min to lead the way to the top 8. However, the status of European players is uneven. Whether he can mobilize the best lineup is Hong Mingfu's test.

Iran, a West Asian power with mature tactics

The Iranian team is the best in West Asia this time. Coach Queiroz (Portuguese) has led Iran to the World Cup for the third time, and his tactical style is mature. The main players include Taremi (Milan forward), Azmoun, Jahanbaksh, and Beiranwand goalkeepers. Overall great experience.

Iran advanced undefeated in the qualifiers with 7 wins and 2 draws in 9 games. He also has a strong ability to dialogue with strong teams. In October 2025, he drew 2-2 with Argentina in a friendly match. Goalkeeper Beiranwand is one of the most valuable goalkeepers in Asia.

Iran aims to reach the last 16. Qatar could have advanced in the last edition, but lost 0-1 in a battle over political background with the United States. The geopolitical pressure may be greater this time around (it's being held in the United States), but the team is stronger than the last one.

Saudi Arabia Home Plot Bonus

The Saudi team is participating this time in a warm-up mood to host the World Cup in 2034. A FIFA ranking of around 60 is still the third tier in Asia. The player lineup includes a large number of Saudi League core players, including Overan, Aldosari, Albrek, Al Owen, etc. The policy for naturalized players is open but implementation is still in its early stages.

Qatar's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the last tournament was a historic moment, but they were eliminated in the group stage with just this victory. The goal this year is to reach at least the top 16. Coach Mancini (Italian) will be dismissed in 2025, and the new coach is Spaniard Hernandez.

Saudi Arabia’s advantage is that its home stadium infrastructure is solid (the 2034 preparation project has begun), and its players’ physical fitness and tactical execution have improved. But compared with European teams, physical confrontation is still a shortcoming. Whether another upset can happen depends on the grouping.

Australia Oceania moves to AFC regulars

The Australian team moved from Oceania to the AFC in 2006 and has qualified for the main draw of 6 consecutive World Cups. The main lineup this time includes goalkeepers Leckie (Celtic), Iermans (Tripoli), Milligan, Hicks, and Ryan. Players generally play in second-tier European leagues.

Coach Popovich replaced Arnold and his tactical style remains pragmatic. Australia's strengths are physical confrontation and set pieces, while its weaknesses are speed attack and creativity. In the qualifiers, they advanced only in the second round, so they were not favored overall.

Predicting the last 16 is difficult. The Australian team has been eliminated in the group stage in the last two tournaments. The goal this year is to strive for a record breaking number of points in the group stage. Unless the group is lucky, it will be difficult to achieve a bigger breakthrough.

Qatar Reflections on the previous host nation

Qatar was eliminated as the host nation in the last group stage after losing all three games, triggering domestic reflection on youth training and naturalization policies. In the new cycle, the coach was changed and a new group of local players aged 22 to 25 were promoted. The naturalization policy has been tightened.

The core players are still Afif, Ali, and Pedro (naturalized in Brazil). Among the younger generation is 22-year-old midfielder Calsori, who is being watched by European clubs. The new coach is Spaniard Martinez. I barely made it through the qualifiers, and my form fluctuated greatly.

Qatar's goal is to regain the dignity of the previous tournament in the group stage, and it will be considered a success if it can score 1 to 2 points. The overall strength is relatively weak among the eight shortlisted teams in Asia, and the time difference and climate adaptation (from the Middle East to North America) are not favorable.

Iraq, Asia’s new youth training force

The Iraqi team this time represents the new forces in Asia’s youth training. The U-20s are runners-up at the 2024 Asian Cup and several key players have been promoted to the first team. The 23-year-old Khadim is the new core of the team and plays for Parma in Serie A. The overall roster has an average age of 25, one of the youngest in Asia.

Coach Casas (Spanish) is known for his high-intensity training, and the players' physical fitness is outstanding among Asian teams. Undefeated in the qualifying round with 6 wins and 2 draws, and the number of goals scored is second only to Japan. It is worth looking forward to whether this state can be maintained in the main game.

It is reasonable to expect that Iraq aims to advance to the last 16. Youth + high-intensity tactics may cause problems for traditional strong teams. It is also possible that the physical advantage is exhausted in the middle and late stages of the 39-day long competition period. It is the most likely Asian team to be upset.

UAE, the new Gulf football power

The UAE has qualified for the expanded World Cup for the first time and is a new Gulf football force. The coach is Hungarian Marko. The strategy of naturalizing players is radical, with many Brazilian and African players joining the national team. Players are generally 22 to 28 years younger.

Strength assessment ranks low among Asia 8 teams. The qualifiers barely advanced through the play-offs. Compared with Japan, South Korea, Iran and other veteran teams, they lack experience and their performance under the pressure of the World Cup stage is unpredictable. The most realistic goal is to score a point in the group stage.

The highlights of the UAE are infrastructure and capital investment. Both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have experienced cycles of significant progress, and it remains to be seen whether the UAE can replicate it. This is their World Cup learning journey, and this is just the beginning.

Why didn’t the Chinese team enter?

The Chinese team lost early in the Asian qualifiers in June 2025 against Bahrain. This is the sixth consecutive World Cup that they have missed the main draw (2002 is still the only time they have qualified). Problems have accumulated at multiple levels including youth training, naturalization, coaching staff, and the league system.

The direct reason is poor performance in key matches in the qualifiers. The underlying reasons are that the youth training talent chain is broken (national youth at all levels from U-17 to U-23 have mediocre results), the effect of naturalized players is far lower than expected (Exon, Alan, and Luo Guofu have aged in 2018), and the coaching staff frequently changes coaches on the field.

Preparations for the 2030 World Cup Qualifiers will begin in the second half of 2026. The core of the new generation is players born from 2002 to 2005, and the current national junior performance is average. If the youth training system and naturalization policy are not reformed, the 2030 finalists will still not be optimistic.

Assessment of overall competitiveness of Asian teams

Overall, the eight Asian teams are divided into three levels of competitiveness. In the first gear, Japan and Iran have the ability to impact the top 8. In the second pot, South Korea and Saudi Arabia target the top 16. In the third gear, Australia, Iraq, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates aim to score points.

Compared with the last World Cup in Qatar, the Asian team has made significant progress as a whole. Japan and Iran are already the world's second-rate teams, and they are no longer one-sided against Europe's top teams. Although South Korea does not have the mythical status of 2002, it is stable and above average.

Expanding to 8.5 spots to give weaker teams a chance is both a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that more countries have the opportunity to experience the highest level of competition. The bad thing is that the quality of the matches of some weak teams is lower than World Cup standards, which may drag down the viewing of the entire tournament.

Points of concern and highlights

The most noteworthy ones. The Japanese team's first game; South Korea's Son Heung-min bid farewell to the stage; Iran's potential second showdown with the United States; whether the Saudi team will stage another upset; the possibility of the outbreak of the younger generation in Iraq.

In terms of time, Asian team games start in the evening on the East Coast of North America or in the afternoon on the West Coast. Most of the time in Beijing is in the early morning and morning. Due to the high level of attention, the match between the Japanese team and the South Korean team will be broadcast live on CCTV5 with a high probability, making it easier for domestic audiences to follow.

The direction of Asian football in the next 10 years. Japan and Saudi Arabia continue to increase investment, while South Korea and Iran maintain the current level. Whether China can successfully reform will determine the pattern of Asia after 2030. This World Cup is an observation window. After watching it, you will have a clearer understanding of Asian football trends.

FAQ

How many Asian teams can reach the top 16?

The ideal prediction is 3 teams (Japan, Iran, South Korea), and the reality is 1 to 2 teams. The new system of the top 32 knockout rounds gives the third place in the group a chance, and the threshold for Asian teams to enter the knockout rounds is lowered. However, the strength gap will appear in the knockout stage, and it will still be difficult to enter the top 8.

Why is the Japanese team favored this year?

The Japanese team has won 7 games in the qualifiers without conceding a goal. The player lineup is deep (Mikasa, Kubo, Doyasu and Ueda are all main players in the top European leagues), and the coach Yasuichi Mori has completed his cycle. There is a clear winning rate against the second-tier European teams. The most promising Asian team to break through to the top 8 this year.

Is there any hope for the Chinese team in the next season?

Preparations for the 2030 World Cup Qualifiers will begin in the second half of 2026. The core of the new generation is players born between 2002 and 2005. If youth training is not reformed and the effect of naturalization is limited, the 2030 finalists are still not optimistic. It needs to be judged by the performance of the national juniors from 2027 to 2028.

How to watch Asian team games in the country

Both CCTV5 and Migu have copyrights. CCTV5 will broadcast live broadcasts of high-profile games such as Japan and South Korea. Migu has all 104 games. Most people watch games from early morning to morning in Beijing time. It is recommended to watch the live broadcast of key matches and knockout matches in Japan and South Korea, and watch the highlights of the next day for the rest.

What is the probability of an Asian team winning the championship?

Extremely low. Japan was the most bullish at 0.5%, Iran at 0.3%, and others below 0.1%. There is still a generation gap between the overall strength of the top teams in Europe and South America. But in 2018, Croatia was not favored but reached the final. There are always surprises in the World Cup, and the 1% probability is not 0.

Asian football in the 2026 World Cup is a good window to observe. When watching games, we not only look at wins and losses, but also look at long-term trends in tactics, youth training, naturalization and other aspects. Hopefully this article will give you a guide to watching Asian teams and capture the key moments of every Asian face during those 39 days.