Sport

Asian Teams' Struggles in World Cup

Updated 2026-07-16 09:10 UTC 1 source Neutral

Asian teams have struggled to advance beyond the first knockout round at the World Cup for six consecutive tournaments. Despite competitiveness, they face significant challenges that prevent them from achieving greater success.

Coverage timeline — 1 article

NPR

No Asian team managed to go far this World Cup (again). What's holding them back?

For the sixth World Cup in a row, no team from the Asian Football Confederation made it past the first knockout round, winning only three games out of 29. Asian teams are competitive — up to a point.

2026-07-16 09:00 UTC