Dr Fadi Maayah
Curtin University, Australia
Jordan Daily - The recent FIFA World Cup performances of Japan and Australia provide a valuable blueprint for the future of Asian football. While many nations continue to judge success by regional trophies and short-term results, Japan and Australia have embraced a different philosophy: building squads capable of competing consistently on the world stage.
Their success is no accident. It is the product of long-term planning, investment in youth development and a commitment to preparing for future World Cups rather than focusing solely on immediate tournament success.
Japan is perhaps the best example of strategic football development in Asia. For decades, the Japan Football Association (JFA) has built a pathway connecting schools, academies, professional clubs and national teams. The aim has never been simply to dominate Asia but to compete with the world's best.
One of Japan's greatest strengths is its depth. The country effectively has two international-quality squads. While an experienced senior team competes at major tournaments, younger players gain valuable experience through Olympic competitions, youth World Cups, international friendlies and regional tournaments, including the Asian Cup. By the time these players reach the World Cup stage, they have already accumulated significant international exposure.
Japan's "Players First" philosophy focuses on producing world-class footballers rather than chasing youth tournament victories. Players such as T. Kubo, Z. Suzuki and K. Nakamura were exposed to senior international football well before reaching their peak years, accelerating their development through experience alongside established internationals.
Australia has increasingly adopted a similar approach. Under Tony Popovic, the Socceroos have deliberately introduced younger players into the senior environment while maintaining a core group of experienced leaders. Emerging talents such as A. Circati, N. Irankunda, J. Bos and P. Okon-Engstler have gained valuable exposure against elite opposition, not simply to impact the current cycle but to prepare them for the future.
This approach reflects a clear understanding that successful national teams are built across multiple tournament cycles. Experience gained at 19, 20 or 21 years of age can become a major advantage when those players reach their peak four years later. Australia's broader talent development initiatives also demonstrate a growing focus on long-term player pathways and succession planning.
The lessons for countries such as Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman are significant. In Jordan, much of the media discussion currently centres on winning the next AFC Asian Cup. While regional success is important, the bigger picture should be preparing for sustained success at the global level.
The ultimate objective should not simply be lifting an Asian trophy. It should be building a national team capable of making a deep run at the 2030 FIFA World Cup in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Achieving that goal requires a shift in thinking.
Rather than selecting squads solely to maximise short-term results, federations should focus on developing balanced teams featuring experienced internationals alongside the nation's most promising young players. Future stars must be given meaningful international opportunities today if they are to become world-class performers tomorrow.
Japan has shown that occasional short-term sacrifices can produce long-term gains. Australia is increasingly demonstrating the same willingness to invest in youth. Both understand that tournaments such as the Asian Cup can serve not only as competitions to win but also as valuable development platforms for future World Cup success.
The message for West Asian football is clear. Long-term planning, early exposure of young players, continuity between youth and senior national teams, and investment in coaching, talent identification and sport science are all essential ingredients of success. Japan's rise to become Asia's leading football nation was not built in one tournament cycle; it was the result of decades of planning and development.
For Jordan, Saudi Arabia and other ambitious nations, the benchmark should not be the next Asian Cup alone. The real goal must be to build strong, balanced and experienced squads capable of competing with the world's best at the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The countries that begin preparing now will be the ones best positioned to succeed when that moment arrives.
