With a record 6 teams, Asian confederation resets goals for World Cup

This is the first time in japan's world cup history that they are in an actual tough group.

Kudos to AFC. Reports say India is eyeing a spot at the FIFA mega festivities. Post Qatar the future World Cup tournaments could see NZ, India's Blue Tigers, and a few other Asian giants rubbing shoulders with the very best on Planet Earth.

In the first World Cup in the Middle East, Europe, with 13, will be the only continent with more teams represented.

Note to Editor.

The above statement is incorrect. Asia continent has 5 representing sides and Australian continent in the Asian football confederation has one representing side.

What the author probably meant was:-

"In the first World Cup in the Middle East, Europe, with 13, will be the only confederation with more teams represented."

Yeah, that sounds good as long as you aren't a fan or a player. Having 195 national teams, their entire squads and their fanbase in one country for potentially one game would be chaos, expensive chaos.

Still, it can't be much worse than THIEFA's plan for a 48 team World Cup every two years.

Best of luck to Japan, but they'll do well to win a game or score any goals I fear.

Should entirely revamp the competition to be like the FA cup with a single knockout format. All countries qualify and higher seeds receive byes until 4th round. All games are 90 minutes then straight to penalties. This would truly be a World Cup with global interest

And always exciting to see an underdog grab a chance

I’d love to see it.

So how much are you betting on the Asian teams to progress past the group stage?

I’d say keep the stakes low.

*Six no-hopers and Italy watching it on the telly. I know it's the World Cup but this just seems wrong.*

Well, past successes do not auto qualify, you need to win the qualifiers to qualify, let's hope some underdogs reach the quarter/semi finals.

Australia which qualified but like New Zealand have been put by FIFA in the Asian group just because Oceania doesn’t have enough teams.

But to be fair that group should be called Asia-Oceania group.

Fighto....

The highly fancied Peruvians turned up before their play-off with Australia in 44 degree heat..

All the stadiums in Qatar are closed and air conditioned. The November schedule is to save the fans. Of course Qatar should never have been allowed to bribe their way to getting the event in the first place.

Well, it gives Nagatomo the chance to dye his hair/have a stupid hairstyle, I suppose

Because he is the only one in all football that dyes their hair/changes their hairstyle?

Really great opportunity for the 6 Asian teams to shine and go as far as possible. Yes, it's a big challenge.

All these teams have played a lot of games in the region and have had to deal with the conditions for years. This will be at least some advantage. The highly fancied Peruvians turned up before their play-off with Australia in 44 degree heat... 2 days before the game, and expected to win! The Aussies had been playing and training there for 2 weeks.

Good luck to all the Asian teams. Hoping they shock and entertain - but not expecting the usual negative naysayers to stop their moaning. Some things won't change.

Alfie - I hear you but that's sport.

Like a top seeded player - eg Nadal - at Wimbledon, being bundled out in the 1st or 2nd round and have to watch a young inexperienced player progress to the finals.

Them's the breaks.

And always exciting to see an underdog grab a chance.

Six no-hopers and Italy watching it on the telly. I know it's the World Cup but this just seems wrong.

According to the predictions of at least one sports page, Japan wont make it out of the qualifying round. If fact they are being predicted to finish last in their group.

But as everyone knows, predictions are like opinions, and everyone's got one!

I predict none of the Asian teams will make it out of the group stages.