☑️ South Korea qualify for World Cup, pave way for new debutant

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·5 June 2025

☑️ South Korea qualify for World Cup, pave way for new debutant

South Korea will compete in its 11th consecutive World Cup - the 12th in total.

Playing in Basra, Iraq, they defeated the home team 2 x 0 this Thursday (5) even without their star player Son Heung-min.

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Kim Jin-Gyu (63') and Oh Hyeon-Gyu (82') scored.

The match was part of the penultimate round of Group B in the final stage of the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

Such result also ensured another historic achievement: the qualification of Jordan, which has never competed in a World Cup. And it will be another debutant after Uzbekistan's spot.

South Korea went to 19 points. The Jordanians reached 16 last Wednesday (4) and Iraq was left with 12 with only one round remaining.

The consolation for the Iraqi team (which had Al Hamadi sent off as early as 26') is to be assured in the playoffs that will guarantee two more direct spots for the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada.

Oman (ten) and Palestine (nine) will face off in the next round for the other playoff spot in the group.

The dream was old...

Jordan has been seeking to compete in a World Cup since the Mexico edition in 1986. And it succeeded on its 12th attempt.

An achievement that comes right after the runner-up in the 2023 Asian Cup, when it eliminated favorite South Korea in the semis before falling to Qatar in the decision.

It had never achieved such a significant result.

Australia is almost there

Asia has eight direct spots for the next World Cup.

Six of them are given to the top two teams from each of the three groups in this stage.

Five have already been filled, with only one remaining.

Which is likely to be Australia's.

On Monday (9), the Socceroos will visit Saudi Arabia in a comfortable situation.

They have 16 points, against 13 of their rivals in Group A.

The first tiebreaker is goal difference.

Which is eight for Australia against zero for the Middle East team.

All countries already confirmed for the next World Cup:

United States