After matchday eight of Asia's World Cup qualifiers, ESPN's writers answer the burning questions, provide analysis and break down the biggest performances across the continent.

UEFA Japan last week became the first non-host nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Iran joined the Samurai Blue on Tuesday. The rest of Asia will have to wait until the final window of third-round qualifiers in June to book tickets — either to the World Cup or a last-chance fourth round.

World Cup is approaching next year and qualifying is finally getting underway. Most of the biggest national teams around the world are yet to book a spot in the first 48-team World Cup ever, after FIFA decided to expand from the old 32-team format that had been in place since the 1998 World Cup.