2025 Watch List: Fourteen National Teams On Our Radar – Part I

Part I
A new year is upon us, and while 2025 may not be as major tournament-packed as 2024, there’s still plenty of exciting action to look forward to.
FIFA World Cup Qualifying takes center stage across the globe as nations prepare for the 2026 finals. Regional tournaments on the calendar include the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, AFCON 2025, the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship, the South Asian Football Federation Championships (with a new format), the Central Asian Football Association Championships, and the FIFA Arab Cup. Additionally, many Asian nations eliminated from World Cup qualification will begin their campaigns for the 2027 Asian Cup.
With plenty to watch and countless storylines to follow, we take a closer look at a handful of nations whose journeys in 2025 we’re especially interested to see.
New Caledonia
The international calendar for Les Cagous looks sparse at the moment, but that could change. In March, they enter the third round of FIFA World Cup Qualifying in Oceania—a semifinal matchup against fellow French-speaking nation Tahiti.
The winner of that semifinal will, at minimum, secure a spot in the Intercontinental Playoff and could potentially reach the 2026 World Cup if they win the final, most likely against New Zealand (apologies, Fiji).
While it’s a massive opportunity for both sides, New Caledonia has been impressive so far in qualifying. They showcased a fluid, attacking style in October and continued their strong form in November, going unbeaten in a group that included Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Joris Kenon (Saint-Philbert/FRA) stood out in October with his dynamic runs down the right flank against Papua New Guinea, though he wasn’t included in the squad in November.
Reaching the semifinals—or even advancing beyond—may open doors to secure the services of a player like Koba Koindredi (Lausanne-Sport/SUI). Born to a New Caledonian father, Koindredi is also eligible to represent Djibouti, Madagascar, or France. Based on his Instagram profile, it’s clear he feels a connection to New Caledonia, and his addition would significantly bolster the squad.
If New Caledonia reaches the Intercontinental Playoff—or even the World Cup—they will need to fill out their 2025 calendar with friendly matches to prepare. Likely opponents could include other Oceania nations or nearby Asian teams.
The political situation in the country also plays a significant role. For nearly a year, violence, protests, and unrest over policy disputes with France have disrupted the nation. This turmoil has prevented the squad from participating in major regional competitions like the OFC Nations Cup and the MSG Prime Ministers Cup. If they manage to schedule friendlies, those matches are unlikely to be held on the island.

Comoros
2024 was an incredible year for Comoros. They nearly went unbeaten, with a random blip in World Cup Qualifying in June against Madagascar handing them their single loss of the year. Their stock is soaring right now.
They have secured a return to the African Cup of Nations later this year in Morocco and sit atop their World Cup Qualifying group that contains both Ghana and Mali.
The biggest question will be: can they keep it going?
Over the last 12 months, they’ve brought in an incredible pool of reinforcements. Players such as Zaydou Youssouf (FC Famalicão/POR), Rémy Vita (Amiens/FRA), Rayan Lutin (Amiens/FRA), Ismael Boura (Troyes/FRA), Warmed Omari (Olympique Lyon/FRA), and Myziane Maolida (Al-Kholood/KSA) all played key roles. Stefano Cusin now has a talented, confident, and deep pool that he can continue to shape.
Les Coelacantes’ first match of the year is a World Cup Qualifying clash at home against Mali, whom they have yet to face in their group. This will be followed by another home match against Chad. It remains uncertain whether these fixtures will take place in Moroni, as the team didn’t play at home at all last year due to their stadium failing to meet standards. Later in the year, they will travel to Mali and Ghana for away matches.
Comoros has only been eligible to play in the 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022 editions of the World Cup and has never qualified. They could make history.

Indonesia
All eyes are on Indonesia right now, and rightly so. They have reached the third round of World Cup Qualifying, defeating rivals Vietnam to get there, and are coming off a historic win against Saudi Arabia in November (feat. Marselino Ferdinan above).
The driving force behind their recent success is an expanding player pool, spearheaded by Indonesia Football Association chairman Erick Thohir. Reports suggest that three more players—Ole Romeny (Oxford United/ENG), Jaïro Riedewald (Royal Antwerp/BEL), and Mitchel Bakker (Lille/FRA)—are set to join the squad and could feature in March.
As the player recruitment continues, Thohir has also made a bold move by appointing Patrick Kluivert as head coach. The decision, while surprising to some, is logical given Indonesia’s growing pool of players who are more comfortable speaking Dutch, as well as the wealth of experience and connections Kluivert brings to the table. This marks a shift from the success Indonesia achieved under Shin Tae-yong’s leadership.
However, Kluivert’s appointment is not without its risks. His tenure with Curaçao was mixed—he struggled to elevate the squad but did guide them to qualification for the 2017 Gold Cup. More recently, his stint with Adana Demirspor in Turkey ended in disappointment, despite a respectable 8-6-6 record in 20 matches. Questions remain about his coaching abilities. Under his guidance, the federation has brought in Dutch assistants Alex Pastoor and Denny Landzaat, both of whom bring strong coaching credentials to the table.
Indonesia’s year kicks off with a tough challenge: an away match against Australia, who sit just one point above them in the second and final automatic qualifying spot in the group. They’ll then host Bahrain, the reigning Arab Gulf Cup champions.
“From the first two games, I would love to have at least four points,” Kluivert said during his unveiling press conference in Jakarta.
If he can deliver on that goal, it could go a long way toward securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, with just two matches remaining in the group stage.

Sudan
2024 was a monumental year for Sudan, but 2025 could be even better. They are set to participate in the African Cup of Nations for the 10th time in their history and, depending on the draw, could spoil the party for some of the tournament favorites.
Remarkably, Sudan currently sits atop their World Cup Qualifying group, which includes heavyweights Senegal and D.R. Congo. With a two-point lead over Senegal, whom they will face at home for the first time in the group during the March window, they have a slight cushion. A crucial home victory against D.R. Congo back on Matchday 2 (November 2023) has been a highlight, and they remain unbeaten in the group. If they can hold onto their lead, they would secure qualification for their first-ever World Cup.
The decision by head coach Kwesi Appiah to recall the Eisa brothers has been transformative for the team. Their inclusion has added depth and attacking threat, with Abo (Nongbua/THA) particularly dangerous on the wings. Abdelrahman Kuku (Al-Ittihad Tripoli/LBY) has also proven to be a key addition at right back, delivering consistently strong performances.
However, crediting just these players would be an oversimplification, as Appiah has significantly improved the team’s cohesion and overall performance. Their stunning displays against Ghana in October’s AFCON Qualification—earning four points from a possible six and keeping a clean sheet in both matches—illustrate their growing strength as a unit.
A word of caution, though. Sudan’s journey hasn’t been without missteps. On the verge of qualifying for AFCON and needing only a point away to Niger, they suffered a mental collapse, losing 4-0 to one of Africa’s “minnows.” It was a sobering lesson for Appiah and his squad. A similar scenario could arise in World Cup Qualification, with their final match away to D.R. Congo, and the question remains: will they have the mental fortitude to overcome this final hurdle and make history?
Burkina Faso
Les Étalons are here because they are our perennial dark horse (no pun intended) in Africa.
After a disappointing AFCON 2023 (played in 2024), where they were bounced in the first knockout round by Mali, the remainder of the year was underwhelming. Losses to Libya in a friendly and Malawi in AFCON Qualifying, as well as a draw with Niger in a friendly, don’t offer a great resume. Friendly results are often tough to assess, and Burkina Faso was unmotivated against Malawi, having already qualified for AFCON 2025. They have dropped seven points in World Cup Qualifying, losing to Egypt while drawing with Guinea-Bissau and (surprisingly) Sierra Leone.
Despite that, they are still only a single point off second place behind Guinea-Bissau, who they face in March (A). They have serious work to do if they are to reach 2026. Egypt has a five point lead on them in the group. The overall leaderboard for the top four runners up, who make it to the second qualifying round, has three teams on nine points already – a four point gap at the moment. Burkina Faso will have to cash in on some big results in order to drive up the table. We were hopeful they would be in contention to reach their first World Cup, but it’s looking dim. We give them a 6.04% chance to qualify directly and a 41.92% chance to reach the playoffs.

The team is talented, young, and reasonably experienced. Bertrand Traoré (Ajax/NED) captains the side, with Edmond Tapsoba (Bayer Leverkusen/GER) anchoring the backline and Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth/ENG) a big threat up top. Again, we like them to make some noise at AFCON if the draw is right.
Two players who could help Burkina Faso in 2025 are Cyriaque Irié (ESTAC Troyes/FRA) and Josué Tiendrébéogo (FC Annecy/FRA). Irié (19) has burst onto the scene over the last two seasons, first at Dijon, which then quickly earned him a move to Troyes. The young forward, who regularly starts and is often deployed on the right wing, is a devilishly fast and capable finisher, as evidenced by his five goals in all appearances so far this season. He’ll serve as a great bench option behind Hassane Bandé and Dango Ouattara, should he get the call.
Tiendrébéogo (22) is experiencing his first season in Europe and performing well when given the chance. An attacking midfielder, he came off the bench against Senegal, started in the loss to Malawi, and didn’t look out of place. Before moving to France, he was a top performer in the domestic Burkinabé Premier League.
A six point window in March could jump start a year full of potential.

Vietnam
2024 was difficult for the Golden Star Warriors. The second round of World Cup Qualifying was a disaster for Vietnam, who only scored six goals in six matches, five of which came against the Philippines, who finished below them. They were overtaken by Indonesia, who progressed to the next round at their expense.
2025 has started off better, with Vietnam winning the ASEAN Championship and defeating rivals and defending champions Thailand to capture their third regional trophy. The introduction of Nguyễn Xuân Son immediately helped solve their goal-scoring woes, as he claimed the Golden Boot with seven goals.
However, Vietnam will have to navigate the upcoming 2027 Asian Cup Third Round Qualifiers without him. He broke his right leg in the ASEAN Championship final and is expected to be out for 8-9 months. His recovery time overlaps with a crucial match away to Malaysia in June. With only the top team in the group advancing to the Asian Cup, any points dropped could make it very difficult for Vietnam to recover. Nepal and Laos are the other two teams in the group—neither should be overlooked, but both are teams Vietnam should be able to manage.
Perhaps secondary to all this is the domestic league, the life blood of the national team, which has struggled to produce high-quality talent. Clubs are bringing in more overseas players instead of developing their own, and while this can occasionally work to the advantage of the national team with players such as Nguyễn Xuân Son, a naturalized Brazilian, the jury is out on whether it’s sustainable in the long run.
Failure to reach the Asian Cup would further dethrone a regional power in Southeast Asia and it’s possible we won’t see them recover for some time. Vietnam stands at a crossroads in 2024, where their ASEAN Championship success could either propel them to the Asian Cup or see them rediscover the same issues that have been holding them back for a while. We’ll have to wait and see.
Paraguay
Momentum is a real factor in football, and Paraguay found theirs in the latter half of 2024.
After a poor and winless Copa América, the federation parted ways with Daniel Garnero and brought in another Argentine manager, Gustavo Alfaro. It didn’t take long for Alfaro to implement his style, which centers on building a strong defensive foundation and adapting strategies to his team’s strengths and weaknesses.
For Paraguay, this didn’t require a complete overhaul. They were already playing a defensive, counterattacking style, having allowed only three goals in six World Cup Qualifying matches. Instead, Alfaro’s greatest contribution has been in the dressing room, instilling confidence and a new mentality in his players.

That newfound confidence paid immediate dividends as Paraguay entered arguably their toughest stretch of qualifying matches. They managed to collect 12 points, including historic home wins against Brazil and Argentina, a crucial victory over direct table rival Venezuela, and hard-earned draws away to Uruguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia.
The team has surged up the table and now sits in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot, with a four-point gap over Bolivia in seventh.
Alfaro also succeeded in convincing Tony Sanabria to return to the national team, a move that has paid off handsomely. Sanabria has contributed three recent goals, including a decisive brace against Venezuela and a critical equalizer against Argentina, a match Paraguay ultimately won.
The biggest question heading into 2025 is whether they can maintain this momentum. They kick off the year with a winnable home match against Chile but still face tough fixtures against Colombia (away), Uruguay (home), Brazil (away), and Ecuador (home) before finishing their campaign in Peru on the final matchday.
A potential boost for the team could come from two players making moves in the winter market. A return to Atlanta United in Major League Soccer for Miguel Almirón might help him regain form after limited minutes this season at Newcastle United. Similarly, Julio Enciso has found minutes hard to come by at Brighton and recently completed a move to Ipswich Town.
Paraguay hasn’t appeared at a World Cup since South Africa in 2010, but this could be the year they finally secure their return to the global stage.
China
Despite conceding 16 goals in this round of qualifying, China is somehow still in contention for a spot at the 2026 World Cup. Wins over Indonesia and Bahrain have kept them on par with four other nations in Group C—all of whom, like China, sit on six points, except for Australia, which leads the rest of the pack with seven (behind Japan). The second and final automatic qualifying spot, currently held by Australia, is just one point ahead.
Unlike the rest of the group, China has already played Japan twice.
We were skeptical of China heading into this round, especially after they barely scraped past Thailand on head-to-head in the second round. It’s fair to say we remain skeptical of their chances.
But they are still in the race.
March will be a pivotal month for them. They travel to face a Saudi side that, despite the return of old heroes, has been underwhelming so far. Then, they host Australia, after which arguably their toughest opponents in the group will be behind them.
Despite the mounting pressure, head coach Branko Ivanković remains confident in his squad. Ahead of their November match against Japan, he said, “I believe our players will be ready at home, and they will fight with no fear. If we can fight on the pitch, anything could be possible.”

China is currently in the middle of a winter training camp to prepare for March. A key addition to the squad is John Hou Sæter, known locally as “Hou Yongyong.” The midfielder is coming off an outstanding season in Norway’s second division with Ranheim, where he scored 19 goals and provided 10 assists. Although born in Norway, Sæter renounced his Norwegian passport in 2019 to obtain Chinese citizenship. He becomes the first naturalized player for China and is expected to become an integral part of the national team, especially now that he has signed with Yunnan Yukun and will play in the Chinese league.
Could 2025 finally be the Year of the ‘Dragon Team’?
Part II will release next week and continue to explore other nations around the world and their outlook for 2025 as we move into Europe and the Caribbean.