Japan has officially secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first nation to qualify through the Asian qualifiers after a 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama.
Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo found the net in the second half, sealing Japan’s progression with three games to spare in the third round of Asian qualification.
While Canada, Mexico, and the United States had already secured their spots as tournament co-hosts, the Samurai Blue are the first to qualify via the competitive route.
Asia has been allocated eight automatic spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup, with one additional place available through intercontinental play-offs. The third round of Asian qualifying features 18 teams split into three groups, with the top two from each group earning a World Cup ticket. Teams finishing third and fourth advance to the fourth round for a final chance to qualify.
Japan, coached by Hajime Moriyasu, reached the last 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before bowing out to Croatia on penalties. In their current campaign, they dominated the second round with six wins from six matches and remain unbeaten in the third round, boasting six victories and one draw.
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, and former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, a Premier League winner in 2020, were among the key players in Japan’s squad as they secured qualification for their eighth consecutive World Cup.
Second-placed Australia trails Japan by nine points after a 5-1 win over Indonesia.
Meanwhile, European World Cup qualifying kicks off this week, with England and Wales among the teams set to begin their campaigns.
