Which Asian team will go the furthest in the World Cup – Saudi Arabia, Australia, Japan, South Korea or Iran?
AFC nations have never reached a final, and this year the region’s record five representatives face tough groups in Russia
Asian teams have been involved in the Fifa World Cup since 1938, when Indonesia became the first from the AFC to go to the finals in France. While there is no Indonesian interest 80 years on – Radja Nainggolan’s omission from the Belgium squad and subsequent international retirement putting an end to that – a record five AFC nations are representing the region in Russia this summer.
And they will all be hoping to improve on the Asian showing at the last World Cup in Brazil four years ago where not one of the four teams won a game. So who is likely to put that right this time, and just how far can they go?
Saudi Arabia – Group A
The Saudis arrive in Russia at 67 on the Fifa World Ranking, which puts them behind the hosts (66), Egypt (46) and Uruguay (17).
They will struggle to get out of the group and may even have their work cut out to get a point, with Russia first up in the tournament opener, a game they are largely expected to lose. Taking points from the other teams – unless Mohamed Salah is out for Egypt – is a big ask.
Their best performance at a tournament was at USA in 1994 when they beat Belgium and Morocco to make the knockout stages. They have never met any of their group opponents at a previous World Cup.