After the national football team did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup, it is necessary to start waiting for the start of the 2026 World Preliminary Tournament and once again impact the World Cup, the good place is that FIFA will increase from 32 teams to 48 teams in the next World Cup, and the number of places in the Asian region will increase from the current 4.5 to 8.5, compared with the current, to increase the hope of the national football team to qualify for the World Cup.
In order to expand the influence of the World Cup, FIFA announced that from the 2026 World Cup, the expansion of the army to 48 teams, Europe to 16 seats, Africa to 9.5 seats, Asia to 8.5 seats, South America to 6.5 seats, North America to 5.5 seats, Oceania to 1 seat, and 1 host presidency.
The original 4.5 places in the Asian region, Japan, South Korea, Iran won 3, the remaining 1.5 direct seats, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar competition, other teams are not competitive enough.
The next World Cup in Asia is divided into 8.5 places, and the national football team does not have to compete with Japan, South Korea, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, because it cannot compete, and it is difficult to compete with the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Oman, and Lebanon for the remaining 2.5 places.
With the reserve talent unable to take over, the national football team may have a fault line next, and it will be thrown away by Vietnam, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Oman, Syria and other teams.
A total of 46 teams in the next Asian region will compete for 8.5 places, and the pressure on the national football team is very high. Of course, there will be unexpected changes at that time, because Russia, which has been banned by FIFA worldwide, may join the AFC and participate in the World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region.
Recently, the Russian media "championat" reported that the Russian Football Association is considering applying to join the AFC Association, which can allow the national team to participate in the Asian Cup, and Russian Super League clubs to participate in the AFC Champions League, the Russian Football Association is also seeking a new way out for Russian football, and it is helpless to consider leaving Europe and entering Asia.
The Russian national team ranks 35th in the world, and if placed in the Asian region, between South Korea (29th) and Australia (37th), it will also immediately enter the ranks of Asia's top teams, and will also have a great impact and influence on Asian football.
The addition of Russian football to the AFC is certainly bad news for the national football team to impact the World Cup, because the addition of new rivals, whether all this plays, depends on the decision of the Russian Football Federation, and the consent of FIFA and the AFC.