Asian Moments: 2018

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Asian Moments: 2018

Kuala Lumpur: With just over a week to go until the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the-AFC.com continues its look back at how Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

Russia 2018 marked the first time the Asian Football Confederation had five representatives as Australia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia all qualified.

And it was to be a campaign that produced a number of memorable moments, from Son Heung-min eliminating Germany to Alireza Beiranvand denying Cristiano Ronaldo and much more.

Asian Moments: 2014

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

Asian Moments: 2014

Kuala Lumpur: We are getting closer and closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026, and as the global showpiece is expanded to 48 teams, the-AFC.com continues its series where we revisit the performances of Asian teams in the prestigious tournament over the years.

Korea Republic, Japan and Australia continued their tradition of representing Asia, while 2014 marked a return after 16 years of absence for Islamic Republic of Iran, but unlike in South Africa four years earlier, there would be no AFC representation in the knockout stage this time.

Asian Moments: 2010

Sat, 30 May, 2026

Asian Moments: 2010

Kuala Lumpur: We are getting closer and closer to the FIFA World Cup 2026 and as the global showpiece gets set to unveil an expanded cast of 48 teams, the-AFC.com continues its series where we revisit the performances of Asian teams over the years.

After reviewing the 2006 edition last time around, we now look at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa which was not only a monumental occasion for the African continent but also for Asia as two AFC representatives, Japan and Korea Republic, made it to the knockout rounds while Australia and DPR Korea also scripted the history of their own.

Asian Moments: 2006

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Asian Moments: 2006

Kuala Lumpur: With the FIFA World Cup 2026 drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com continues its series of looking back at how Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

Following the emphatic success of Korea Republic and Japan, the co-hosts of 2002, Asian football was on the rise, and returned four years later with Islamic Republic of Iran replacing China PR as part of the quartet representing the AFC at Germany 2006.

Asian Moments: 2002

Fri, 29 May, 2026

Asian Moments: 2002

Kuala Lumpur: 2002 was a special year in the history of Asian football as, for the first time since the first ball was kicked at the 1930 edition in Uruguay, the FIFA World Cup finally came to Asia.

The 17th edition of the global showpiece was also the first to be co-hosted as Japan and Korea Republic joined forces to deliver a festival of football in which they both excelled, with the Taeguk Warriors producing a remarkable run to the semi-finals.

There was also a first and, to date, only appearance from China PR, while Saudi Arabia returned for a third successive time.

Asian Moments: 1998

Thu, 28 May, 2026

Asian Moments: 1998

Kuala Lumpur: With the FIFA World Cup 2026 drawing ever closer, the-AFC.com continues its series of looking back at how the Asian teams have performed at the global showpiece over the years.

With the World Cup expanding into 32 teams for the first time, Asia benefited from 3.5 seats at France 1998. Just as they did in the previous edition, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic were present, while Japan took the third spot and Islamic Republic of Iran ensured the AFC had a four-team contingent for the first-time ever, snatching the qualification ticket in the Intercontinental Playoff from Australia, then representing the OFC.