Asia will not be represented in the round of 16 at the World Cup... unless we start talking about the Women's World Cup.

In 2006, when Australia left the Oceania Football Confederation and joined the Asian confederation, it was hailed as a big win for men’s football in Australia: no longer would the Socceroos have to beat a South American side to make the World Cup finals. But, goodness, the Matildas – who previously needed only to win Oceania – would do it tough.

Australia's Cailtin Foord (No.9) and Emily van Egmond have helped put Asia near the forefront of women's football.

Fast forward eight years. The Socceroos have not missed a World Cup finals since the switch. But it worked out even better for the Matildas, who have made the quarter-finals at both World Cups and won an Asian Cup since. Asia's quota for the Women's World Cup has now increased from three to five teams.

The Socceroos are ranked No.62 in the world. Japan are Asia’s highest-ranked men's team at No.46. Yet Asia’s women have five teams in the world’s top 20 – Japan (No.3); Australia (9); North Korea (11), China (13) and South Korea (18).