World Cup Group Stage Ends with 'Asia·Arab Upset'... Europe and South America Suffer Pride Blow

Asia's First Ever Three Teams 'Korea, Japan, Australia' Advance to Round of 16... African Teams Senegal and Morocco Also Advance
European Round of 16 Teams Decrease from 10 in 2018 to 8... Only Brazil and Argentina Survive in South America

[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar began with an upset on the second day of the opening, November 22, when Saudi Arabia defeated the favorite Argentina 2-1 in Group C. On the 3rd, in Group H, South Korea achieved a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Portugal, and in Group G, Cameroon defeated Brazil 1-0, concluding the group stage with a series of upsets until the last day.

With these consecutive surprises, Asia, traditionally considered a football underdog, made history by having three teams advance to the Round of 16 for the first time ever. In Group D, Australia advanced to the Round of 16 as the second place with 2 wins and 1 loss, following France (2 wins and 1 loss), and Japan topped Group E with 2 wins and 1 loss to pass the group stage. Notably, Japan emerged as the main force of the Asian surge in this tournament by achieving consecutive 2-1 comeback victories over favorites Spain and Germany in the so-called "Group of Death."

In Group H, South Korea joined the Round of 16 dramatically by finishing second in the group with 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, behind Portugal (2 wins and 1 loss).

The African surge was also fierce. Senegal finished second in Group A with 2 wins and 1 loss, behind the Netherlands (2 wins and 1 draw), and Morocco topped Group F with 2 wins and 1 draw, pushing out last tournament’s runner-up Croatia (1 win and 2 draws, 2nd place) and one of the favorites Belgium (1 win, 1 draw, 1 loss, eliminated).

In the previous tournament, no African teams advanced past the group stage. Among Asian countries, only Japan reached the Round of 16. While only one team from Asia and Africa reached the Round of 16 in the 2018 Russia World Cup, this time five teams from these continents made it.

Amid the surges from Asia and Africa, the two powerhouses of world football, Europe and South America, suffered a blow to their pride.

[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

Among European countries, 8 teams advanced to the Round of 16, down from 10 teams in the previous tournament. Germany and Belgium, both considered favorites, earned 4 points but were eliminated early due to goal difference. In South America, only the two giants Brazil and Argentina reached the Round of 16, halving the five teams that advanced in the previous tournament.

The 2022 Qatar World Cup will enter the knockout stage starting on the 4th with the Round of 16 matches between the Netherlands and the United States, and Argentina and Australia. South Korea will face perennial favorite Brazil at Stadium 974 in Doha at 4 a.m. on the 6th.

South Korea has faced FIFA No. 1 Brazil (Korea ranked 28th) seven times in history, recording 1 win and 6 losses. The only victory was a 1-0 win in a friendly match held in Seoul in March 1999, with the winning goal scored by Kim Do-hoon. Since then, South Korea has suffered four consecutive defeats. In the most recent friendly match held in Seoul this June, South Korea lost 1-5.