The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32 has been finalized, with Japan and Australia emerging as the only Asian Football Confederation (AFC) representatives to survive the group stage.
A total of 32 teams advanced from the tournament's 12 groups, including the top two finishers from each group (24 teams) and the eight best third-placed teams.
Of the nine AFC nations competing at the expanded 48-team World Cup, only Japan and Australia secured places in the knockout stage.
Seven Asian sides, including South Korea, Iran and reigning AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar, were eliminated in the group stage.
South Korea, which reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, endured a disappointing campaign and finished 34th overall after failing to qualify for the knockout stage. Iran narrowly missed out on advancement, finishing 33rd overall as the highest-ranked team not to reach the Round of 32.
African nations, meanwhile, enjoyed a remarkable tournament.
Nine of the continent's ten representatives advanced beyond the group stage.
South Africa, Morocco, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt and Cape Verde qualified automatically by finishing second in their respective groups. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Algeria and Senegal also reached the Round of 32 after securing places among the eight best third-placed teams.
Tunisia was the only African nation to be eliminated, finishing bottom of Group F after losing all three of its matches.
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