The opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup have painted two sharply contrasting pictures between representatives from Asia (AFC) and South America (CONMEBOL).

Asian nations such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea have displayed impressive form, earning valuable points against formidable opponents.

In contrast, South American sides have stumbled, struggling to secure even a single victory in their respective groups.

Teams like Paraguay, Brazil, Ecuador, and most recently Uruguay, have all failed to notch a win in their opening fixtures.

This development underscores how captivating the competition at the 2026 World Cup has become, with surprises emerging from every corner.

According to Arnan Binafsihi, Deputy Chairman of Oranye Indonesia, the results from the first matchday affirm that Asian nations can no longer be underestimated on the world stage.

The fact that no Asian team has suffered defeat so far reflects the continent’s positive trajectory in football development.

“When we look at the results of Asian countries, it reinforces that Asian football can no longer be seen as second-tier,” said Arnan in an interview on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).

He further added that the positive results of Asian teams in their opening games illustrate how football development and youth training across the continent have surpassed those in South America.

“No Asian team has lost yet — that’s proof that the structure and progress of Asian football have outpaced the CONMEBOL region,” he explained.

“South Korea, Japan, Australia — their performances are not surprising. Many of their players compete in European clubs,” he continued.

“With strong youth development systems and well-run domestic leagues, their players are constantly monitored by top European teams. As a result, their national sides have become tougher and more competitive,” Arnan concluded.

His assessment appears to be spot-on. The contrast between the first matchday results of Asian and South American teams could not be more striking.

Out of the six Asian nations that have already played their opening group matches, South Korea and Australia emerged victorious.

South Korea staged a comeback to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Group A, while Australia secured a 2-0 win over Turkey in Group D.

For both nations, these opening wins are immensely valuable, significantly enhancing their chances of progressing to the knockout stage.

Currently, both South Korea and Australia sit second in their respective groups with three points each. A single additional win from their remaining two group matches could all but guarantee them a place in the Round of 32.

Meanwhile, the other four Asian teams that have completed their first matches also produced commendable performances, each earning a draw.

Qatar salvaged a crucial point after Miro Muheim scored a late equaliser against Bosnia in Group B.

Japan, the reigning Asian powerhouse, held the Netherlands to an entertaining 2-2 draw.

Elsewhere, Iran and Saudi Arabia both finished 1-1 in their respective matches. Iran drew against New Zealand, while Saudi Arabia shared points with Uruguay.

On the other hand, the story was far less encouraging for the South American sides.

Traditional powerhouses Brazil and Uruguay could only manage 1-1 draws against Morocco and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

Paraguay suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of the host nation, the United States, while Ecuador lost narrowly 0-1 to Ivory Coast.

As a result, no CONMEBOL team has managed to secure a win in the tournament’s opening round of fixtures.

The region’s hopes now rest on Argentina and Colombia, who have yet to play their first matches. Defending champions Argentina are set to face Algeria, while Colombia will take on debutants Uzbekistan.

(Report by Dwi Setiawan)