Asia Teams Have Reached the Round of 16 Only 8 Times... Korea's 9th Attempt Today

Japan 4 Times in World Cup History
South Korea 2 Times, North Korea 1 Time, Saudi Arabia 1 Time
Total 10 Appearances Including Australia
South Korea Only Team to Reach Quarterfinals

On the morning of the 2nd (Korean time), the Group E third match between Japan and Spain in the 2022 Qatar World Cup was held at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Japanese players who secured a 2-1 victory are cheering after the match ended.

Japan became the eighth Asian country to advance to the Round of 16 by defeating the "Invincible Armada" Spain in the group stage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Attention is focused on whether South Korea, facing Portugal on the 3rd, can continue this record as the ninth.

Since the World Cup began in 1930, it has been a formidable barrier for Asian countries to reach the Round of 16.

The first Asian country to win a match in the World Cup was North Korea. In the 1966 England tournament, where 16 teams participated, North Korea caused a sensation by defeating Italy 1-0 in the third group stage match, advancing to the quarterfinals with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss.

From 1982, when the number of teams in the World Cup finals increased to 24, Asian countries repeatedly failed to advance to the Round of 16. In the 1994 USA World Cup, Saudi Arabia succeeded in becoming the first Asian team to reach the Round of 16 after the expansion to 24 teams by achieving 2 wins and 1 loss.

The 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup marked a turning point for Asian teams' victories. Both host countries, South Korea (semifinals) and Japan (Round of 16), advanced through the group stage.

In 2006 Germany, all four Asian countries (South Korea, Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia) were eliminated in the qualifiers, but in 2010 South Africa, South Korea and Japan advanced to the Round of 16 among the four.

In the 2014 Brazil tournament, all Asian countries again failed to pass the group stage.

In 2018 Russia, Japan advanced through the group stage.

In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Australia (members of the Asian Football Confederation) participated, with Japan once again securing a place in the Round of 16.

Currently, Asian countries have reached the Round of 16 a total of eight times: Japan 4 times, South Korea 2 times, North Korea 1 time, and Saudi Arabia 1 time.

South Korea has the opportunity to write the ninth advancement record.

The South Korean national football team will play their final third group stage match in Group H against Portugal at 0:00 KST on the 3rd at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar.

To advance to the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years, they must defeat Portugal, who have already secured passage through the group stage with 2 wins. Afterwards, they will have to watch the results of the Ghana (1 win, 1 loss) vs. Uruguay (1 draw, 1 loss) match, but the possibility remains.

Paulo Bento, head coach of the South Korean national football team, said, "We must do our best using all the cards we have against a difficult and powerful team," adding, "We showed a high level in the previous two matches. We will have the chance to play a good game in the third match as well. I think there will be an opportunity not only to be equal but to win."

Australia was formerly a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) but joined the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 2006. Australia succeeded in advancing to the Round of 16 in the Qatar World Cup. This counts as the 10th Round of 16 advancement for AFC member countries.

Meanwhile, Japan, which has qualified for the World Cup finals seven consecutive times, advanced to the Round of 16 for the fourth time overall, following the 2002 Korea-Japan tournament, 2010 South Africa tournament, and 2018 Russia tournament. Notably, advancing to the Round of 16 in two consecutive World Cups is a first for an Asian country.

Also, this is the third time and the first in 20 years that an Asian team has topped their group in the World Cup, following South Korea and Japan in the 2002 Korea-Japan tournament.

Japan, which stopped at the Round of 16 in all three previous group stage advancements, now challenges their first-ever quarterfinal advancement.

The only case of an Asian country winning a match in the World Cup Round of 16 knockout stage is South Korea in 2002. At that time, South Korea achieved a 2-1 comeback victory against Italy.