For Asian football, opening days don't come much better than this with Korea Republic registering a huge come-from-behind 2-1 victory ove Czechia to kickstart their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in the best possible style.

Marking their first opening game win at a World Cup since 2010, the win sets Korea up nicely to progress from Group A. We're joined by Steve Han from Guadalajara and Scott McIntyre from Vancouver to dissect the game, as Steve and Scott debate the merits of Korea's performance overall.

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The final team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is also the final team in our World Cup preview series, and that is Iraq.

Back on the global stage for the first time in 40 years, the Lions of Mesopotamia now have Australian Graham Arnold at the helm. How important will his World Cup experience be? Is this the moment for their exciting crop of young talent to shine? While Scott explains why Amir Al Ammari will be so important in midfield.

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Another nation making their debut at this year's FIFA World Cup, Jordan are a nation that consistently flies underneath the radar, despite making the Final of both the AFC Asian Cup and FIFA Arab Cup in recent years.

Why is that so? How much will they miss Yazan Al-Naimat? And how important is Mousa Al-Tamari?

We answer those questions and much more.

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One of two debutant nations for Asia at this FIFA World Cup, Uzbekistan has shed their bridesmaid tag and are ready to shine on the international stage.

But with a controversial change of coach, is this team ready to perform under Fabio Cannavaro? And in a difficult group, just what is possible for the White Wolves?

We answer all those questions with our resident Uzbek expert, Martin Lowe.

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In the third and final part of our FIFA World Cup previews, we cast our over over two of the debutant nations in Uzbekistan and Jordan, as well as Iraq who are making their return to football's global showpiece for the first time in 40 years.

Is Uzbekistan ready for this moment? How big is the loss of Yazan Al Naimat? And, how important in Graham Arnold's experience for Qatar?

We answer those questions plus much, much more.

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The most talked about national team heading into this year's FIFA World Cup, Iran's campaign has been clouded by the ongoing US-Israel war and the political situation surrounding the team.

It's from that situation that star striker Sardar Azmoun has been left out, and we discuss the implications of that, as well as other key injuries, as well as the age profile of the team as we ask whether this is one step too far for this generation.

Plus, we also get the thoughts of Hatam Shiralizadeh from Tasnim News Agency.

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Four years after shocking the world in Qatar, what does the FIFA World Cup 2026 have in store for the Green Falcons?

Can they shock the world again? What will such a late change of coach do to their fortunes, and is this team, that scored only ten goals in qualifying, capable of finding the back of the net?

We discuss all of that, plus get the thoughts of Arab News reporter Mohammed Fayad on Georgios Donis' squad.

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Set for their eighth appearance at FIFA World Cup, Japan come in as the most favoured Asian nation to go far at this year's tournament.

So, how far can Hajime Moriyasu's side go? Can they even go all the way? We discuss that, plus ask how they replace Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino on the eve of the tournament.

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In Part 2 of our FIFA World Cup 2026 preview series, we cast our eye over three more of Asia's record nine nations participating at this year's tournament.

With a focus on Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran, we discuss the burning questions and topics heading into the World Cup:

• How do Japan replace Kaoru Mitoma?
• How far can Japan go?
• Can Saudi Arabia cause another shock like 2022?
• Can this Saudi team score the goals needed to win games of football?
• How big is the absence of Sardar Azmoun?
• How will the politcal climate impact Iran's performance?

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In the third of our team-by-team previews ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, we turn our attention to Australia as they prepare to face Turkiye, USA and Paraguay.

We discuss the perceptions of Australia from outside the Asian bubble, the excitement machine that is Nestory Irankunda, the injuries that have plagued key players and ask whether this is Australia's most exciting generation of players to appear at a World Cup since 2006?

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