Uzbekistan and Jordan have both qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup, while South Korea have secured their place once again for the 2026 tournament.
The three teams are the latest to book their tickets to the expanded 48-team World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They join the list of qualified nations that already includes the three host countries, as well as Japan, New Zealand, Iran, and Argentina.
Uzbekistan clinched their spot after a goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates. Later in the day, South Korea beat Iraq 2-0 to secure their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance. That result also confirmed Jordan’s qualification, following their earlier 3-0 win over Oman.
Uzbekistan, ranked 57th in the world and home to 36 million people, played their first match as an independent nation in 1992 after leaving the Soviet Union. They were officially recognized by FIFA in 1994.
Their closest attempt at qualification came in 2006 during a controversial playoff against Bahrain. Although Uzbekistan won the first leg 1-0, a refereeing error led FIFA to order a replay. They were eventually eliminated on away goals, missing a chance to play in the final intercontinental playoff against Trinidad and Tobago.
Despite that setback, Uzbekistan have consistently qualified for the AFC Asian Cup since 1996. They have reached the knockout rounds in every tournament since 2004, including a semi-final appearance in 2011 and a quarter-final run last year.
Jordan, ranked 62nd in the world, have now made history by reaching their first World Cup. This is their seventh attempt since entering qualification in 1986. Their best previous run came in 2014, when they lost an intercontinental playoff to Uruguay.
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