Japan Makes History as First Team to Qualify for 2026 World Cup
Japan has secured its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first team to qualify through the Asian qualifiers. The Samurai Blue achieved this feat after defeating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium on Thursday, courtesy of goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo.
This victory guarantees Japan’s place among the top two teams in Group C, booking their ticket to the tournament alongside host nations the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Japan’s impressive form in the qualifiers has seen them drop only two points in six matches, with their sole setback being a 1-1 draw against Australia in October.⁴
Hajime Moriyasu’s squad has been dominant, holding a ten-point lead over third-placed Indonesia with four matches remaining in this round of qualification. Australia occupies the second automatic qualification spot, trailing Samurai Blue by nine points, but they are only one point ahead of a tight pack that includes Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China.
Japan’s qualification for the 2026 tournament marks their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, reinforcing their consistency at the highest level. The Samurai Blue will now look to build on this momentum as they prepare for the World Cup, with their sights set on making a deep run in the tournament.
In other matches, Australia will host Indonesia in their first match under new head coach Patrick Kluivert, while Saudi Arabia faces China in Riyadh. Asian powerhouse South Korea is also on the verge of progressing from Group B, needing a win against Oman in Goyang on Thursday, followed by another positive result against Malaysia.
