Asia (AFC) and Africa (CAF) are the only two continents outside of Europe and South America to have produced FIFA World Cup semi-finalists in the 21st century. Korea Republic reached the final four at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan, while Morocco achieved the same feat at the recent FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Aside from these two, the only non-European and non-South American team ever to reach the semi-finals remains the United States at the 1930 FIFA World Cup Uruguay, when group winners advanced directly to the semi-finals.
The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, will feature the highest number of matches ever played between AFC and CAF teams. In Mexico, Korea Republic will meet South Africa in Monterrey in their final Group A match, while Tunisia will take on Japan in the same city in Group F.
In the United States, IR Iran face Egypt in Seattle (Group G), Cabo Verde meet Saudi Arabia in Houston (Group H), and Jordan play Algeria in San Francisco Bay Area (Group J). Additional AFC-CAF match-ups could follow depending on next month’s play-off results.
With fewer than four months remaining until the tournament gets underway, FIFA looks back at five classic encounters between Asia and Africa from previous World Cup finals.
South Africa 2-2 Saudi Arabia | France 1998
Date: 24th June 1998
Venue: Parc Lescure, Bordeaux, France (Group C)
Attendance: 31,800
Scorers: Shaun Bartlett (18, pen 90+3); Sami Al-Jaber (pen 45+3), Yousuf Al-Thunayan (pen 74)
Although Africa made its World Cup debut at Italy 1934, with Asia soon following suit via the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) in 1938, the first meeting between the two continents at the finals came in this Group C clash at France 1998. Saudi Arabia had raised expectations by advancing to the Round of 16 at USA 1994, however, after consecutive losses to Denmark and France – scoring no goals while conceding five – they entered the match already eliminated.
Meanwhile, South Africa suffered a 3-0 defeat to France in their opening match, but after drawing with Denmark 1-1, they still had a chance of progressing to the Round of 16 with a victory against Saudi Arabia.
Led by coach Philippe Troussier, South Africa struck first in the 18th minute, however, Saudi Arabia were quick to turn the tide in their determination to avoid three straight losses. Sami Al Jaber scored an equaliser just before halftime, followed by Yousuf Al Thunayan in the 74th minute, with both goals coming from the penalty spot. Bartlett levelled the match again to 2-2 and that was the way things finished.
Trivia
Tunisia 0-2 Japan | Korea/Japan 2002
Date: 14th June 2002
Venue: Nagai Stadium, Osaka, Japan (Group H)
Attendance: 45,213
Scorers: Hiroaki Morishima (48), Hidetoshi Nakata (75)
Japan had never advanced past the group stage in the World Cup prior to this tournament, but after securing a win and a draw against Belgium and Russia in their previous two matches, they needed only to avoid defeat to secure progression. Tunisia , who had not won a World Cup match since defeating Mexico 3-1 in 1978, had just the one point, which meant they had to win against Japan as well as gain favourable results elsewhere.
Japan dominated the match from the outset. Coach Philippe Troussier expressed his intent to break through the defensive line by introducing right-winger Daisuke Ichikawa at the start of the second half, and this substitution paid immediate dividends. Just three minutes into the second half, midfielder Hiroaki Morishima capitalised on a loose ball inside the box to fire a powerful right-footed shot into the bottom left corner and Nakata later sealed the win with a header from an Ichikawa cross.
Trivia
Korea Republic 2-1 Togo | Germany 2006
Date: 13 June 2006
Venue: Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Germany (Group G)
Attendance: 48,000
Scorers: Mohamed Kader (31); Lee Chunsoo (54), Ahn Junghwan (72)
Korea Republic arrived in Germany carrying high expectations after their semi-final run at the previous World Cup. Meanwhile, Togo were making their debut and this was perhaps the first time Korea were not considered to be the clear underdog in a World Cup match.
However, despite being favoured, Korea appeared rattled from kick-off, seemingly flustered by Togo’s sharp attacks and they fell behind in the 31st minute when right-back Massamasso Tchangai delivered a long pass behind the defence for Mohamed Kader to finish clinically.
The introduction of Ahn Junghwan, hero of the 2002 World Cup, though proved decisive. Nine minutes into the second half, Lee Chunsoo equalised with a curling shot from a free kick won by Park Jisung. Then, 18 minutes later, right back Song Jongguk delivered a low pass which Park cleverly dummied, allowing Ahn to ripple the net and turn the tide of the match as Korea secured their first-ever victory at a World Cup held outside home soil.
Trivia
Ghana 1-1 Australia | South Africa 2010
Date: 19th June 2010
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa (Group D)
Attendance: 34,812
Scorers: Brett Holman (11); Asamoah Gyan (pen 25)
Ghana’s 2010 run is widely remembered, with their group stage victory over Serbia, a Round of 16 win against USA, and their thrilling quarter-final match against Uruguay. However, had Ghana failed to secure a single point against Australia in their second Group D match, the subsequent success story would never have been written. At the conclusion of the group stage, the two sides were tied on four points. Yet, thanks to their slight advantage in goal difference, Ghana narrowly advanced to the last 16.
Ghana found themselves under pressure from the beginning. In the 11th minute, Australia midfielder Mark Bresciano struck a direct free-kick from the edge of the area that goalkeeper Richard Kingson failed to hold, allowing Brett Holman to pounce and score from close range.
Ghana though responded in the 25th minute when Andre Ayew beat Australia full-back Luke Wilkshire and delivered a cross that Jonathan Mensah turned goal-ward. The ball struck Harry Kewell’s arm, resulting in his dismissal and a penalty for Ghana. Asamoah Gyan converted it to equalise and rescue his side from the brink of defeat.
Trivia
Korea Republic 2-4 Algeria | Brazil 2014
Date: 22nd June 2014
Venue: Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil (Group H)
Attendance: 42,732
Scorers: Islam Slimani (26), Rafik Halliche (28), Abdelmoumene Djabou (38), Son Heungmin (50), Yacine Brahimi (62), Koo Jacheol (72)
Algeria suffered the misfortune of being eliminated in the group stage despite winning two matches – defeating West Germany and Chile – in Group 2 of the 1982 World Cup in Spain, their first-ever World Cup appearance. For that reason, their 4-2 victory over Korea Republic in 2014 carried far greater significance than any before. The result ultimately propelled Algeria to their first-ever Round of 16 appearance at the finals.
Having fallen 2-1 to Belgium in their opener, Algeria approached the Korea match with determination and within 38 minutes they’d raced into a 3-0 lead.
Korea responded through Son Heungmin, but Yacine Brahimi – widely regarded as one of the world’s finest dribblers – effectively sealed the contest in the 62nd minute with a mazy run and controlled finish to make it 4-1. Koo Jacheol pulled another goal back for Korea, but they were unable to avoid defeat.
