The Squads: Facts & Stats

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

The Squads: Facts & Stats

Kuala Lumpur: From the best-represented clubs, to the oldest and youngest players, to the smallest and tallest players and FIFA World Cup returnees feature.

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 squads now finalised and revealed, we're taking a deeper look into what the numbers are saying.

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Focus: Group A

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Focus: Group A

Paris: If history is any guide, co-hosts Mexico will kick off the FIFA World Cup 2026 with every reason to be confident of comfortably advancing into the knockout rounds from Group A.

Mexico, the only country to host three World Cups, reached the quarter-finals on the two previous occasions the tournament was played on home soil, in 1970 and 1986.

The co-hosts get the tournament under way against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11 before later group stage games against Korea Republic and Czechia.

Focus: Group B

Wed, 03 Jun, 2026

Focus: Group B

Paris: After a decade-long march up the FIFA World Rankings, co-hosts Canada are hoping to crown their rise by claiming a piece of FIFA World Cup history in Group B - a first ever win.

In two previous appearances at the FIFA World Cup - the 1986 edition in Mexico and the 2022 tournament in Qatar - Canada have a perfect record of six defeats from six matches.

The co-hosts are aiming to buck that trend in a first round group that includes Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar and Switzerland.

Know your team: Uzbekistan

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

Know your team: Uzbekistan

Kuala Lumpur: Uzbekistan are all set to make their long desired FIFA World Cup debut, with the White Wolves set to unveil their style of football on the global stage in a matter of days.

Three-and-a-half decades after they gained independence and with seven, often heartbreaking, failed qualification campaigns in their wake, Uzbekistan have finally reached the promised land.

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.

Al Taamari, Olwan to spearhead Jordan challenge

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026

Al Taamari, Olwan to spearhead Jordan challenge

Amman: Musa Al Taamari and Ali Olwan will lead Jordan's historic challenge at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with the nation set to make their debut appearance on football's biggest stage.

Head coach Jamal Sellami named his final 26-man squad, with Rennes winger Al Taamari and prolific forward Olwan expected to play key roles as Jordan seek to progress from a difficult Group J.