After 17 days of competition, the tournament has finalized the 32 teams advancing to the knockout rounds, including 12 groups' winners and runners-up and eight best third-placed teams.

Iranian players thank fans after their 1-1 draw with Egypt in the final match of Group G in the World Cup on June 26, 2026.

Out of the 16 eliminated nations, the AFC accounts for seven, making up 43.75% of the early exits. The eliminated Asian teams are South Korea, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq and Iran.

Heartbreak for Iran

Iran were the team holding their breath until the final minutes, waiting to see if they would secure a spot in the next round. Before the final matchday, Iran sat third in Group G with three points and a goal difference of zero.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei's squad were ranked sixth among the third-placed teams and initially projected to have an 80% chance of advancing.

However, a string of unfavorable results sealed their fate.

Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1 in Group L, Uzbekistan fell 1-3 to DR Congo in Group K, and Austria played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Algeria in Group J. These outcomes pushed Iran from sixth to ninth in the ranking of third-placed teams.

Senegal ultimately claimed the 8th spot over Iran, boasting three points but a superior +2 goal difference following a resounding 5-0 victory over Iraq in the final match of Group I.

Low advancing chance

In terms of overall qualification success, the AFC achieved a mere 22.2% advancement rate. This figure only placed them ahead of the Oceania Football Confederation, whose sole representative, New Zealand, finished at the bottom of Group G.

The other global confederations all saw half or more of their teams advance. Africa led the pack with an impressive 90% success rate, followed by South America (83.3%), Europe (81.25%), and North and Central America (50%).

The number of Asian teams finishing dead last in their respective groups stands at five: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. This is the highest among all confederations, followed by North and Central America (three), Europe (two), Africa (one), and Oceania (one).

The results mark a significant step back from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In that tournament, Asia had only six qualifying spots but achieved a 50% advancement rate, tying with South America and trailing only Europe (61.5%). Africa advanced 40% of its teams in 2022, and North and Central America saw a 25% success rate.

The average score achieved by Asian teams this year is 2, only higher than Oceania (1). South America has the highest with 5.5 points, followed by Europe (5.25), Africa (4) and North and Central America (3.33).

The two remaining Asian hopes, Japan and Australia, both advanced by finishing second in their groups. However, they face daunting challenges ahead. Japan are set to clash with South American giant Brazil, while Australia will take on Egypt.

Bac Ninh athletes shine on global stage

BAC NINH - Athletes from northern province of Bac Ninh have delivered a string of standout performances at regional, continental and world competitions this year, highlighting the effectiveness of the province’s long-term investment in elite sports development.

Vietnam wins gold at Asian karate tournament

Nguyen Thi Dieu Ly defeated Kama Tsubasa of Japan 5–1 to take the title in the women's 68kg class, helping Vietnam complete its target at the continental tournament.

Vietnam's relay squads capture Asian golds

Quartet Ta Ngoc Tuong, Vu Ngoc Khanh, Tran Dinh Son and Le Ngoc Phuc stunned onlookers with their win in the men's 4x400m event.

World Cup excitement fuels responsible fandom among Hanoi youth

Beyond avoiding unlawful activities, many young supporters are also helping foster a healthier online environment. Regardless of which team they support, they maintain respect for opponents, coaches and players participating in the tournament.

Vietnamese para-chess team shine at IPCA world chess championship 2026

Vietnam was represented by two athletes, Doan Thu Huyen and Tran Thi Bich Thuy, under the guidance of coach Bui Quang Vu.