Why no Southeast Asian nation has qualified for the World Cup? | TheBriefWire
Why no Southeast Asian nation has qualified for the World Cup?
Published 20 June 2026 ยท sports
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most passionate football supporters. Across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia, nearly 300 million people
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most passionate football supporters. Across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia, nearly 300 million people follow the sport.
Yet despite that passion, not a single Southeast Asian nation will be represented at football's biggest tournament. Thailand's latest World Cup qualification campaign ended in disappointment, renewing questions about why the region continues to struggle on the international stage.
Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng reports from Bangkok on the obstacles facing Southeast Asian football and whether the region can finally break through in future World
Cups. Find us on Check our website Check out our Instagram page Download AJE Mobile App
Published: June 20, 2026 โข 11:36 AM IST ยท Updated: June 20, 2026 โข 12:10 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key pointsยท Video
Southeast Asia is home to some of the world's most passionate football supporters.
Across Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia, nearly 300 million people follow the sport.
Yet despite that passion, not a single Southeast Asian nation will be represented at football's biggest tournament.
Thailand's latest World Cup qualification campaign ended in disappointment, renewing questions about why the region continues to struggle on the international stage.
Al Jazeera's Tony Cheng reports from Bangkok on the obstacles facing Southeast Asian football and whether the region can finally break through in future World Cups.