Qualification in Asia
© Imago
This text was first published on June 5th and was updated with new information.
The Uzbekistan national team has qualified for the World Cup for the first time. The team of coach Timur Kapadze achieved a 0-0 with the direct rivals united Arab Emirates on the penultimate matchday of the qualification and thus consolidated second place. According to the draw in Abu Dhabi, the Uzbeken are no longer suppressed by one of the first two places and will be at the start in North America next summer.
Update June 06, 06:19 a.m. In addition to the Uzbeken, Jordan will also be present at a World Cup in 2026. In Oman, the team of Jamal Sellami won 3-0 and since South Korea defeated Iraq 2-0 a little later, participation was also perfect. With a squad value of 15.8 million euros, Jordan is 98th and thus still significantly behind Uzbekistan.
The World Cup (June 11 to July 19, 2026) takes place in the USA, Mexico and Canada. There are 48 nations for the first time – these will form twelve groups of four. In front of Uzbekistan, Iran had prevailed from this qualification group. The Uzbek team ranks 58th with its current squad value among all nations in world football (to the ranking of all national teams according to the market value of the players).
In addition to the three hosts USA, Mexico and Canada, world champions Argentina, New Zealand, Iran and Japan had already solved their ticket. Australia is hardly to be displaced from a qualification place that won 1-0 against Japan thanks to a last minute goal by Aziz Beh. With 16 points, the Australians are three points and eight goals in front of Saudi Arabia, which followed with a 2-0 away win in Bahrain.
By expanding the starter field, Asia has eight starting places this time. For the DFB team of national coach Julian Nagelsmann, the qualification has not even started. In a group of four, Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg are waiting for the national team.
