Asia benefits from World Cup expansion as AFC qualification delivers thrills | John Duerden
There are concerns that quality at the 2026 tournament will be diluted but giving Asia more places has brought a new dimension to qualification
Jeddah is more relaxed and laid-back than Riyadh. Tony Popovic should know. On Tuesday, for the second time in his coaching career, he left Saudi Arabia with a big prize, though back in 2014, it had been a far more fierce fight. Then, Western Sydney Wanderers went to the capital to defend their 1-0 first leg lead in the Asian Champions League final and, despite the best that Al Hilal could throw at them, held firm amid the storm for the most unlikely of trophy wins. This week, however, there was a five-goal cushion by the Red Sea, meaning there was only ever going to be one outcome: a seventh World Cup appearance. After successive playoff qualifications, to advance directly to North America is a welcome change and to do so with wins against Japan and Saudi Arabia is especially pleasing.
It may have ended calmly, but this campaign has been a real rollercoaster. When Australia joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006, the basic selling point was that it provided bigger, better and more tests at all age levels. At the senior level, the past few months have certainly provided that. Group C showed that – Japan apart – it can be debated whether the traditional powerhouses on the continent are developing as they should, but those a little lower down the rankings are grabbing hold of the ladder and looking up with determination.