Three teams – Jordan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan – have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, booking their respective spots for next year’s 48-team tournament held in North America.

For Jordan and Uzbekistan, it will be the first time those teams have reached the World Cup. It will be South Korea’s 11th consecutive appearance. 

There are now nine teams – Argentina, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Iran, and Uzbekistan, along with co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico – that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

With a scoreless draw against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, Uzbekistan picked up the point required to secure progress thanks to goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov’s second-half performance – which included three key stops. 

Jordan clinched its spot by first hammering Oman 3-0 and then waiting to see the result of South Korea’s game against Iraq. With the South Koreans then winning 2-0, it assured those two winning sides would be heading to World Cup ’26.

South Korea are heading to the World Cup, marking 11 straight appearances in the tournament. (Photo by Hussein FALEH / AFP) (Photo by HUSSEIN FALEH/AFP via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Australia is virtually assured of its sixth straight appearance thanks to its 1-0 win over Japan in Perth. The Socceroos still have await until next Tuesday, when they take on Saudi Arabia, to officially clinch. 

The already-qualified Japan fielded an experimental XI with only Daichi Kamada and Koki Machida having made more than four international appearances, but still had the majority of possession and chances. But in the 90th minute, Riley McGree broke free down the right and pulled back for Behich to curl home to bring Perth Stadium to its feet and give Australia its first win over Japan in 16 years.

Elsewhere, China was eliminated from qualification after a 1-0 loss to Indonesia in Jakarta.

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2025-06-05 21:01:00