TRIBUNNEWS.COM – The latest update of the 2026 FIFA World Cup standings highlights an intriguing pattern, with identical results unfolding across three different groups — B, G, and H.
Meanwhile, teams representing the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have shown impressive form so far, with none of them suffering a defeat.
This strong performance serves as a clear reminder that the rest of the world can no longer underestimate the strength of Asian nations in the World Cup.
Arnan Binafsihi, Deputy Chairman of Oranje Indonesia, did not hesitate to praise the Asian teams’ showing at the start of the 2026 World Cup campaign.
He cited youth development programs, the improving quality of domestic leagues, and the increasing number of players competing in Europe as key factors behind Asia’s continued football progress, including its national teams.
“No Asian team has lost so far, which proves that football development in Asia is now better than in CONMEBOL or Latin America,” Arnan Binafsihi told Tribunnews on Tuesday (June 16, 2026) afternoon local time.
“South Korea, Australia, Japan — their success is no surprise since many of their players play for European clubs,” he added.
“As for Saudi Arabia, perhaps not many of their players are in Europe, but their domestic Saudi Pro League has imported quality football by bringing in international stars,” he continued. “They have not hesitated to sign European stars to improve their domestic league, which in turn has elevated the overall level of their football, ultimately benefiting their national team.”
The situation is particularly fascinating in Groups B, G, and H, where none of the teams managed to claim a victory in their opening fixtures of the 2026 World Cup.
Most of the nations in these three groups could only manage draws in their respective matches.
Starting with Group B, which includes host nation Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and Qatar.
Both opening matches — Canada vs Bosnia and Switzerland vs Qatar — ended in identical 1-1 draws.
As a result, all four teams in Group B share one point each, with identical goal differences, leaving the group evenly balanced.
These draws have made the fight for qualification to the knockout stages particularly exciting in Group B.
A similar scenario unfolded in Group G, featuring Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand, and Iran.
Both the Belgium vs Egypt and New Zealand vs Iran matches ended in draws, resulting in a tight competition among all four teams, each collecting one point so far.
Moving on to Group H, the story remains just as interesting.
Cape Verde produced a surprise by holding Spain to a draw in their opening match, while the other fixture in the group also ended in a 2-2 stalemate.
The evenly matched results in these groups promise an intense and dramatic race in the remaining two group-stage fixtures.
Overall, Asian teams have made a strong start to this edition of the World Cup.
Although Jordan and Uzbekistan have yet to play, most of Asia’s representatives have already secured valuable points in their opening group matches.
South Korea and Australia have both earned victories in their respective groups.
South Korea came from behind to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Group A, while Australia claimed a 2-0 win over Turkey in Group D.
With those wins, South Korea and Australia currently sit as runners-up in their groups, each with three points.
If they manage to secure another victory from their remaining two group matches, both teams will likely guarantee a place in the round of 32.
While South Korea and Australia celebrated wins, four other Asian teams managed to secure one point each from their first matches.
Qatar earned a crucial draw after Miro Muheim scored a late equaliser against Bosnia in Group B.
Japan, the reigning Asian champions, held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener.
Iran and Saudi Arabia also shared the spoils in their respective matches, both finishing 1-1. Iran drew against New Zealand, while Saudi Arabia held Uruguay.
Group A–C Standings of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
Group A
1. Mexico | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3
2. South Korea | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3
3. Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0
4. South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0
Group B
1. Switzerland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
2. Canada | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
3. Qatar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
4. Bosnia & Herzegovina | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
Group C
1. Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3
2. Morocco | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
3. Brazil | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
4. Haiti | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0
Group D
1. United States | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 3
2. Australia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3
3. Turkey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0
4. Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0
Group E
1. Germany | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 3
2. Ivory Coast | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3
3. Ecuador | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0
4. Curacao | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 0
Group F
1. Sweden | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 3
2. Japan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1
3. Netherlands | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1
4. Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0
Group G
1. New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1
2. Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1
3. Belgium | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
4. Egypt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
Group H
1. Uruguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
2. Saudi Arabia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1
3. Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
4. Cape Verde | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1
(Tribunnews.com/Dwi Setiawan)
