Jordan and Uzbekistan have both secured their first-ever qualifications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a historic milestone for the two nations.
Jordan earned their spot with a dominant 3-0 win over Oman, thanks to a hat-trick from Ali Olwan. This victory confirmed Jordan as one of the top two teams in Group B of the Asian qualifiers, securing their maiden World Cup appearance. Ranked 64th in the FIFA World Rankings, Jordan had previously finished as runners-up to Qatar in the 2023 Asian Cup, making this qualification a significant achievement in their football development.
South Korea also confirmed their place in the tournament with a 2-0 win against Iraq, marking their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. An early red card for Iraq’s Ali Al-Hamadi paved the way for goals from Kim Jin-gyu and Oh Hyeon-gyu. South Korea’s victory helped clear the path for Jordan’s qualification from Group B.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan sealed their spot after a goalless draw with the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. Ranked 57th globally, Uzbekistan finished second in Group A behind Iran. Goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov was instrumental in maintaining the clean sheet. The Uzbek squad features notable players such as Manchester City’s Abdukodir Khusanov and national team captain Eldor Shomurodov, who plays for Roma.
These two emerging Asian teams join South Korea, Iran, Japan, and others as part of the expanding list of qualifiers for the 2026 tournament. Co-hosts Mexico, the United States, and Canada have automatically qualified, alongside Argentina and New Zealand.
