Asia's World Cup: South Korea's Lone Stand
The AFC's 2026 campaign saw Japan, Australia, and Uzbekistan exit early, while South Korea alone carried Asian hopes into the knockout stage.
The 2026 World Cup proved a sobering tournament for the AFC. Of Asia's five representatives, only South Korea advanced beyond the group stage, reaching the Round of 32 before falling 2–1 to Canada in a tight affair (2026-073). Japan, Australia, and Uzbekistan all exited at the group stage, while Iraq and Iran failed to ignite their campaigns.
South Korea's path was narrow but resilient. After a 2–1 victory over Czech Republic (2026-002) with Son Heung-min's late goal, they drew 2–1 with Mexico (2026-028) and then edged South Africa 2–1 (2026-054), with Son and Hwang Hee-chan both scoring. The team finished second in Group A with 6 points—enough to progress. Japan, despite a 2–1 win over Sweden (2026-057), could not overcome Netherlands' dominance and exited with 6 points. Australia (0 points) and Uzbekistan (0 points) failed to register a single victory.
South Korea's knockout exit to Canada, via Jonathan David's brace, underscored a familiar truth: Asian football remains capable of shining in qualifying and group play, but sustained deep runs against Europe's elite remain elusive. The Taeguk Warriors' campaign was a modest achievement in a tournament ultimately claimed by France.
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