The application potential of the metaverse as an emerging technology in education has sparked widespread attention globally. A systematic review was conducted using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses method, which yielded 43 relevant articles from a total of 527 articles to examine the current status and the potential of the metaverse adoption in education. The analysis involves seven aspects as reflected in the seven research questions posed. The results indicate global widespread interest in exploring the potential application of the metaverse in education, primarily focusing on general educational settings and relatively less on specific subjects such as English and mathematics. Surveys and interviews were the primary research methods used, with the technology acceptance model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology as common theoretical frameworks. Twenty-five factors influencing the adoption of the metaverse in education have been identified, and six future research topics, such as examining students' and teachers' behaviors and attitudes have been proposed. This review contributes to constructing a novel framework for future research of the metaverse adoption in education, encouraging educators to integrate its advantages into specific subjects based on students' needs for quality education.