'Zero Goals': Son Heung-min Ultimately Excluded; World Cup Asia Best 11 Revealed — Japan with No Less Than 5 Players

*This content was translated by AI.

The World Cup Asia Best 11, selected from Asian players competing in the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup, has been unveiled. While only three players from Korea made the list, Japan secured nearly half the spots with five players.

Football content platform Madfootball announced on the 22nd (Korea time) that "one of the most intriguing stories of this World Cup is the growth of Asian football, as Asian nations are standing up to the world's strongest teams and demonstrating their presence." It added, "In particular, Japan has surprised many football fans with its remarkable performance and overwhelming display. Many fans are calling this an Asian storm." Based on this, the platform selected and revealed a Best 11 composed of Asian players.

The attacking lineup, built on a 3-4-3 formation, included no Korean players. Son Heung-min (LAFC), who started in both group stage matches against Czechia and Mexico but remained silent, and Oh Hyeon-gyu (Besiktas), who scored the dramatic equalizing goal in the Czechia match, were excluded. Instead, the platform selected Japanese national team forwards Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord) and Junya Ito (Henk), along with New Zealand national team striker Eliza Just (Motherwell) for the attack. Although New Zealand is an Oceania team and not part of Asia, the platform classified it under Asia. Ueda scored two goals and provided one assist in the Tunisia match, while Ito scored one goal in the same match. Just netted a brace against Iran.

In midfield, Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) was positioned in the center, while Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) took the right flank. Hwang In-beom contributed one goal and one assist in the Czechia match, while Lee Kang-in also provided an assist in the Czechia game and played the full 90 minutes in two consecutive starts, serving as a key figure in Korea's attack. On the left flank, Japan's Keito Nakamura (Reims) was deployed, and in the midfield, Kaise Sano (Mainz) was positioned.

The defense featured a Korean-Japanese duo from Bayern Munich, Kim Min-jae and Hiroki Ito, alongside Iran's Ramin Rezaeian (Esteghlal). The goalkeeper was Australia's Patrick Butcher (Melbourne City). Excluded were Uzbekistan center-back Abdukodir Khusanov (Manchester City), whose market value reaches 50 million euros (approximately 88 billion won) according to transfer market site Transfermarkt, as well as Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland) and Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo). By nationality, Japan had five players, Korea three, and Australia, Iran, and New Zealand one each.

Immediately after the World Cup kickoff, Asian teams, including Korea, drew attention by going six consecutive matches without defeat (two wins, four draws). However, their strong form waned after three consecutive losses in the final stages of Round 1 (first round). In Round 2, Qatar lost to Canada and Korea lost to Mexico, resulting in three consecutive defeats for Asian teams, until Japan broke the streak by crushing Tunisia 4-0. As of the second round of group stage matches, Asian teams' record stands at three wins, five draws, and seven losses.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.