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Only two teams advance to World Cup knockout stage -- AFC teams record worst performance in recent years

On June 28, the group stage of the USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup concluded, with all 32 teams determined. In the group stage, the nine AFC teams only managed three wins, coming from Japan, South Korea, and Australia, with an overall record of 3 wins, 9 draws, and 15 losses, showing a strong start but weak finish.

After the group stage, only Japan and Australia among the AFC teams advanced to the knockout stage, where they will face Brazil and Egypt respectively. South Korea and Iran, both finishing third in their groups, waited in vain and were squeezed out of the knockout stage at the last moment.

Poor results: AFC teams only secured 3 wins in the group stage

After the expansion of the USA-Mexico-Canada World Cup squad, the number of slots for AFC teams increased from the previous 4.5 to 8.5. In the end, nine AFC teams—Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Jordan, and Iraq—entered the finals. In terms of slot allocation, this number is second only to Europe (16 slots) and Africa (9.5 slots).

However, looking at world football, AFC teams as a whole lack strong competitiveness. Their best historical result was South Korea finishing fourth in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. In addition, North Korea also reached the quarterfinals in the 1966 England World Cup.

In the first round of group matches, the nine AFC teams had a record of 2 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses, with the first six matches remaining unbeaten, raising expectations from the outside world. But afterwards, the AFC teams' performance went from strong to weak, with a second-round record of 1 win, 1 draw, and 7 losses, and a third-round record of 4 draws and 5 losses. After the group stage, the overall record was only 3 wins, 9 draws, and 15 losses, with five teams finishing at the bottom of their groups.

In World Cup history, the most AFC teams advancing from the group stage was at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when Japan, Australia, and South Korea advanced to the knockout stage. In this World Cup, the number of AFC teams increased to nine, and it was hoped that more teams would make it to the knockout stage. However, after three rounds of group matches, only Japan and Australia advanced. Looking at recent World Cups, Japan has established itself as a second-tier team in world football and a benchmark for Asian football. Australia, with its excellent physicality and defense, also has certain competitive strength.

Among the 32 knockout stage teams, the fewest come from the AFC, with only two. Europe and Africa have 13 and 9 teams advancing respectively, South America has 5, and North America, Central America, and the Caribbean have 3 teams advancing.

■ AFC teams' group stage results in this World Cup

South Korea: 3rd in Group A, eliminated

Qatar: Bottom of Group B, eliminated

Australia: 2nd in Group D, advanced

Japan: 2nd in Group F, advanced

Iran: 3rd in Group G, eliminated

Saudi Arabia: Bottom of Group H, eliminated

Iraq: Bottom of Group I, eliminated

Jordan: Bottom of Group J, eliminated

Uzbekistan: Bottom of Group K, eliminated