Uzbekistan and Jordan secured historic World Cup berths for the first time on Thursday, while South Korea confirmed their place and Australia edged closer in Asia's qualification campaign for the 2026 tournament in North America.
Uzbekistan and Jordan made history by qualifying for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, while South Korea booked their spot and Australia took a big step toward qualification during Thursday’s Asian qualifiers for the 2026 tournament in North America.
Uzbekistan earned a goalless draw against the UAE in Abu Dhabi, securing a top-two finish in Group A alongside Iran. Goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov’s key saves ensured a result that marked a milestone in Uzbek football since the nation’s independence in 1991.
South Korea defeated 10-man Iraq 2-0 in Basra with second-half goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu. The win also confirmed Jordan’s qualification from Group B, following their earlier 3-0 win over Oman, powered by Ali Olwan’s hat-trick.
Australia beat Japan 1-0 in Perth through Aziz Behich’s goal, staying ahead of Saudi Arabia in Group C. Although Saudi Arabia defeated Bahrain 2-0, Australia’s superior goal difference means they can lose their final match and still qualify.
Elsewhere, Qatar beat Iran 1-0, and Indonesia progressed to the next round with a 1-0 win over China. Palestine kept hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Kuwait, while Kyrgyzstan were eliminated after drawing 2-2 with North Korea.
The top two teams in each group qualify directly for the World Cup, while third and fourth-place finishers advance to a fourth round in October to fight for two remaining spots.
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