The 2026 Planet Cup is 968 days absent, but for some groups, goals of qualifying have previously been dashed.
Though most confederations don’t begin qualifying for some time – UEFA’s approach kicks off in March 2025 – one of them has currently wielded its axe.
Ten groups playing in the Asian qualifying phases have found their hopes extinguished following a brutal very first knockout spherical.
Guam turned the initially country to be eradicated as they shed 3-1 on combination at the palms of Singapore.
A 2-1 reduction in Singapore past Thursday was followed by a 1- decline at property currently, with Dane Jacob Augustin despatched off to compound their woes.
Ranked 203rd in the globe, the Micronesian island only at any time had an outside the house possibility of earning the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, but they will however be emotion the soreness.
Guam grew to become the initially country to be knocked out of qualifying for the 2026 Planet Cup
Australia will enter the next Asian qualifying spherical in November alongside with other large teams
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For a number of several hours, they were being the sole workforce to have been eliminated, but many others have now followed fit.
Maldives, Cambodia, Mongolia, Bhutan, Macao, Laos, Brunei, Timor Leste, and Sri Lanka sign up for Guam in the initial 10 losers.
They will not reward from the generously expanded format for 2026, in which 48 groups will consider component.
The standout performers in the very first qualifying round have been Indonesia, who pulverised Brunei 12- more than two legs.
Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) also progressed in style with a 7- mixture acquire more than Timor-Leste.
Pakistan won their 1st-ever qualifying tie with a 1- victory about Cambodia.
The 2nd round of qualifying in Asia will kick off in November and see the introduction of tons of big hitters including Australia, Japan, and South Korea enter a group stage format.