Guardian calls South Korea 'most disappointing' at World Cup, hails Japan as model for Asian football

A British newspaper reviewing the 2026 North America World Cup delivered a blunt verdict on Asian football, holding up Japan as a model for the continent while singling out South Korea as one of the tournament's most disappointing sides.

The Guardian, in a post-tournament analysis published June 30 (local time), said the World Cup "was a catastrophic tournament for Asia."

Nine Asian nations qualified for the finals, but only Japan and Australia advanced from the group stage. Japan's run ended in the round of 32 with a 1-2 loss to Brazil.

The Guardian praised Japan's performance in particular. The paper said Japan had looked on the verge of beating Brazil for long stretches, showing competitive energy, technical quality and work rate against one of the world's best sides. It noted, however, that a drop in fitness in the second half and a defensive line that sat too deep ultimately allowed Brazil to score in added time.

The paper also said the outcome might have been different had key players — Kaoru Mitoma, Wataru Endo, Takumi Minamino and Takefusa Kubo — all been available, and concluded that Brazil's superior squad depth proved decisive.

The Guardian presented Japan's long-cultivated system and footballing philosophy as a model other Asian nations should study. It also quoted manager Hajime Moriyasu, who said before the match, "We represent Asia" and "We want to be a source of hope for other Asian teams."

The paper added that for Japan to become even more competitive against the world's elite, the overall level of Asian football needs to rise. Because Japan rarely faces deep-sitting defensive opponents in continental competition, a stronger Asia would better prepare them for sides like Brazil, the Guardian argued.

The assessment of South Korea was far harsher. "South Korea were probably the most disappointing," the Guardian said, adding that the team "should have gone through."

After raising expectations with a win over the Czech Republic in their opening match, South Korea produced what the paper called "dreadful and passive" performances against Mexico and South Africa.

The Guardian noted that manager Hong Myung-bo stepped down after the tournament amid unprecedented criticism, though it stopped short of placing the blame solely on him, saying several structural factors contributed to the early exit.

The paper also criticized the Asian Football Confederation. It said the AFC Champions League, particularly from the quarterfinals onward, is structured in ways that favor wealthy nations such as Saudi Arabia, and that Saudi Arabia and Qatar benefited from home advantage and favorable scheduling in World Cup qualifying.

"Without that help, both countries might not have qualified," the Guardian said, adding, "Ultimately, that might have been better for everyone involved."

The paper also said AFC president Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa praised Japan and Australia but that Asia needed to examine its overall results — and that those results, given that he has held the position since 2013, suggested it was time for someone new to take over.

The Guardian ultimately concluded that the tournament prompted more reflection on Asian football's overall competitiveness than celebration of Japan's strong showing. Pointing to next January's Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia as a fresh starting point, the paper said only nations that invest in long-term development systems and stronger domestic leagues — rather than chasing short-term results — will be able to consistently challenge at the knockout stage of the next World Cup, as Japan has done.