Guam becomes first nation to face elimination from FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers

They lost 3-1 on aggregate to Singapore

969 days ahead the competition is scheduled to start, Guam became the first country to be ruled out of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The island in the western Pacific participates in the AFC's qualification process. The losers of each two-legged match were eliminated from World Cup qualification. Twenty teams were involved.

Guam was drawn against Singapore and lost the first leg 2-1.

Tuesday's game in Dededo saw the two teams square off once more, with Guam losing 3-1 on the whole thanks to a late goal from Shawal Anuar.

Since then, other Asian countries have likewise faded into obscurity, their hopes of competing on the global stage put on hold until 2030.

Afghani team defeated Mongolia 2-0 overall. Yemen won 4-1 in two legs against Sri Lanka. Pakistan won 1-0, narrowly defeating Cambodia. Chinese Taipei defeated Timor-Leste 7-0 overall.

Macau managed to hold Myanmar to a 0-0 stalemate at home but lost 5-1 to their rivals on the road. On the whole, Bangladesh defeated the Maldives 2-1, holding on with ten men in the second game.

Bhutan, who had lost the first leg 4-0, attempted a comeback against Hong Kong, but could only manage a 2-0 victory.

Nepal defeated Laos 2-1, while Indonesia thrashed Brunei 12-0, both of which were convincing 6-0 victories.

Guam trailed by one goal going into the second leg. 969 days before the World Cup began, they failed to overcome the disadvantage and were eliminated as the first team.

Guam, a tiny island with only 18,000 people, stunned the globe in 2018 by winning its first Globe Cup match. Turkmenistan was defeated 1-0 against Guam at home, although they suffered heavy losses in other games.

The Noblemen sent seven people to China when even Cambodia defeated the small island nation.