'Asian Storm Warning' Lifted... South Korea, Japan, Australia Eliminated in Round of 16

First Tournament with 3 AFC Nations Reaching Round of 16
"A Turning Point That Raised the Level of Asian Football"

On the 6th (Korean time), a foreign soccer fan attending the 2022 Qatar World Cup Round of 16 match between South Korea and Brazil at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, poses holding the Taegeukgi flag.

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, three countries from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) advanced to the round of 16, but all failed to reach the quarterfinals.

The main topic of the Qatar World Cup group stage was the "Asian wave."

A record six AFC member countries participated in Qatar, and South Korea, Japan, and Australia succeeded in advancing to the round of 16.

This is the first time that three AFC member countries have reached the round of 16.

Before this tournament, the highest number of AFC countries advancing to the round of 16 in a single World Cup was two.

In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, both countries reached the round of 16, and in the 2010 South Africa tournament, South Korea and Japan also made it to the round of 16.

Aside from these two countries, Saudi Arabia's advancement to the round of 16 in the 1994 USA World Cup was the only other instance of an AFC country reaching the round of 16.

Unfortunately, the Asian wave faded in the round of 16.

Australia was the first to be eliminated, losing 1-2 to Argentina on the 4th at Al Rayyan, Qatar, in the round of 16.

Japan shed tears after a fierce match that went to penalties on the 6th. In the round of 16 against Croatia at Al Janoub Stadium in Doha, Qatar, the match ended 1-1 after 90 minutes plus extra time of 120 minutes, but Japan lost 1-3 in the penalty shootout.

Thus, Japan failed to pass the round of 16 for the fourth time, following 2002, 2010, and 2018.

South Korea also ended their run after losing 1-4 to Brazil, concluding the tournament for the three Asian countries.

The only times an AFC country reached the World Cup quarterfinals were North Korea in 1966 and South Korea in 2002.

The best performance by an AFC country in World Cup history is South Korea's 4th place finish in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

On the 6th (Korean time) at the 974 Stadium in Doha, Qatar, the Round of 16 match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup between South Korea and Brazil took place. In the second half, Baek Seung-ho roared after scoring a goal.

Although the Asian wave alert has been lifted, this World Cup reaffirmed hope for Asian football.

Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, AFC President, congratulated South Korea on their round of 16 qualification on the 3rd via the official website, saying, "South Korea showed impeccable team spirit from start to finish. They deserved to be in the round of 16."

He added, "This is a milestone moment as three teams from Asia reached the round of 16 for the first time in Asian football history," and "credit goes to all member associations that have raised the level of Asian football."