Former Tajikistan national team coach Gela Shekiladze, who has also worked with the Maldives and Afghanistan national teams, has assessed the performances of Asian sides at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the Georgian specialist, most Asian representatives, with the exception of Japan, failed to make a strong impression at the tournament.
“Unfortunately, the Asian teams, apart from Japan, did not perform particularly well. I think it is a question of the level and quality of the players. We know that many African footballers play in Europe, where they gain valuable experience and develop much greater mental resilience. They were better prepared and achieved good results.
“South Korea are a strong team, but most of the other Asian national sides are still below the standard required at a World Cup. That is probably why we have seen these results,” Shekiladze told Eurasia Football.
The coach noted that experience in European leagues helps players from Africa and South America cope better with the intensity of World Cup matches.
“Players who compete in Europe, including African and South American footballers, are usually in very good physical condition. They are used to playing at a high intensity and are better prepared tactically and technically.
“We know how demanding European leagues are. That may also have an impact on their performances,” he said.
Shekiladze also highlighted the pressure faced by Asian national teams at the World Cup.
“We have to remember that the World Cup brings enormous pressure, especially when the tournament is being held on another continent. For Asian players, that creates an additional challenge. They probably need more time to reach this level,” the specialist added.
At the same time, he stressed that not every European team had looked convincing.
“You cannot say that the European teams have performed particularly well either. Apart from France, I have not seen anything special so far. Germany and the Netherlands have already been eliminated.
“But that is football. Its beauty is that you never know what will happen. The old logic no longer applies in modern football,” Shekiladze said.
The coach also commented on Uzbekistan, who made their first-ever appearance at the World Cup finals.
“Uzbekistan’s first World Cup appearance was a valuable learning experience for the team. I think they will prepare differently and approach the next World Cup in a much better way,” Shekiladze concluded.