This year’s World Cup has seen an impressive performance from African nations, with 9 out of 10 teams qualifying for the knockout rounds of the tournament.
In stark contrast, Asia, represented by 9 teams in the group stage, managed to advance only 2 into the elimination rounds.
Africa Sends 9 Teams to the World Cup Knockouts
The success of African teams at this World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks a significant achievement for a continent that had only five teams in the last edition in 2022. This progress reflects the growth and development of African football, showcasing players increasingly capable of competing at the highest levels against the world’s best national teams. African squads have notably secured points against Brazil, England, Portugal, Spain, and Uruguay during their campaign.
- Morocco
- Egypt
- South Africa
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cap Verde
- Senegal
- Ghana
- DR Congo
- Algeria
Tunisia was the sole African team eliminated from the group stage, finishing with 0 points in a group that included the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden, marking one of the weakest performances in World Cup history for the nation.
- Africa (CAF) – 9/10 (90.0%)
- CONMEBOL (South America) – 5/6 (83.3%)
- UEFA (Europe) – 13/16 (81.3%)
- CONCACAF (North America) – 3/6 (50.0%)
- AFC (Asia) – 2/9 (22.2%)
- OFC (Oceania) – 0/1 (0.0%)
Former footballer and current FOX Sports analyst Peter Crouch believes an African team may soon win a World Cup, stating, “It’s only a matter of time before an African team lifts the trophy.”
Asia: A Major Disappointment at the World Cup
Japan and Australia are the only Asian teams to qualify for the knockout stage, both finishing second in their respective groups.
Other Asian nations, including Jordan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, ended at the bottom of their groups, collectively earning just 3 points.
South Korea was a significant disappointment in the Asian contingent, especially given they were placed in a relatively accessible group alongside the Czech Republic, Mexico, and South Africa.
Iran narrowly missed advancing, earning 3 points but needing favorable results from other matches to qualify. They were the ninth best team finishing third, with only the top eight advancing.
Consequently, Asia ranks among the weakest continents in this tournament, alongside Oceania, which comes as no surprise.
