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How World Cup expansion is driving Asia’s naturalisation arms race
As Asiaâs allocation has now doubled, many nations look to foreign-born talent to push them towards qualification
When the United Arab Emirates line up against Iraq on Thursday for the fifth and final round of Asian qualification for next yearâs World Cup, it is likely that over half of the home starting XI in Abu Dhabi will be foreign-born. The UAE are, however, merely another participant in a naturalisation arms race in the continent that has been boosted by the expansion of the World Cup from 32 teams to 48.
Asiaâs allocation has doubled from four automatic spots in Qatar to eight in North America, opening up the tournament to a new array of contenders desperate to play on the greatest stage of all. Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Australia have historically dominated World Cup qualifying, with North Korea the most recent outlier in 2010. Those six are the only teams from the Asian Football Confederation to make more than one appearance at the tournament.
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One last chance: UAE and Iraq’s World Cup hopes ride in Asia’s 5th qualifying round
Saudi players celebrate at the end of the World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier fourth-round Group B soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Iraq at Alinma Bank Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo)
Iraq’s Ibrahim Bayesh Al-Kaabawi clears the ball during the World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier fourth-round Group B soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Iraq at Alinma Bank Stadium in King Abdullah Sports City, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo)
United Arab Emirate’s Rúben Filipe, left, and Qatar’s Edmilson Junior, center, fight for the ball during the 2026 World Cup qualifying soccer match between Qatar and United Arab Emirates at the Hamad Bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Sayed)
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