PETALING JAYA: For decades, Asian teams arrived at the World Cup with one modest ambition - to survive the group stage.
But that narrative has changed.
South Korea’s 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in their opening Group A match on Wednesday is the latest proof, and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul said it reflected a new era for the continent.
"Asian football has changed. Quietly, but unmistakably, we’ve entered a new era," said Windsor.
Asia’s seven representatives, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and Uzbekistan, blend established power with fearless newcomers, and for the heavyweights, qualification is no longer the finish line.
Windsor said Japan embodied that shift most clearly.
Four years after coming agonisingly close to the quarter-finals in Qatar, Hajime Moriyasu’s Samurai Blue have stopped talking about merely impressing, they’re talking about winning the tournament outright.
"Even their own coaching staff have said it publicly, they’re not going there to compete, they’re going there to win," said Windsor.
"The majority of that squad play every week in Europe’s top leagues. They’re not stepping into pressure for the first time, pressure is their working environment," he explained.
South Korea offer the clearest symbol in Son Heung-min, whose years of Premier League experience bring a psychological edge few opponents can match.
Around him, Lee Kang-in has featured in back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals with Paris Saint-Germain.
Australia remain the model of consistency, repeatedly surviving deep into tournaments; their task now is progression, not participation.
Saudi Arabia and Qatar face tougher questions, the Saudis changed coaches amid inconsistent form, while Qatar haven’t fully rediscovered the touch that won them back-to-back Asian Cups, but both retain enough quality to trouble anyone.
Then there’s the new wave.
Uzbekistan’s qualification is the product of years of patient youth development, not luck. Jordan and Iraq arrive hungry to announce themselves.
On Iraq’s 2-1 win over Bolivia in the World Cup playoff qualifiers in April despite the longer travel, Windsor said, "That result tells you everything. Asian teams are no longer intimidated by traditional football powers and the rest of the world is starting to notice."
"Nobody can look at an Asian team now and assume the three points are guaranteed. That era is over," he added.
"The talent is there. The experience is there. The confidence is growing. What we’re waiting for now is the breakthrough moment and when it comes, it won’t be a shock."
