Japan has become the first nation to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their 2-0 victory over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium. The crucial win was sealed in the second half when substitute Daichi Kamada broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, followed by Takefusa Kubo’s late goal, ensuring their dominance in Group C of Asia’s qualifying stage. This victory guarantees Japan a top-two finish in their group, marking their eighth consecutive World Cup qualification. Under the leadership of Hajime Moriyasu, the Samurai Blue have remained a formidable force in Asian football, proving their consistency on the global stage. The Asian qualifiers are structured so that the top two teams from each of the three groups earn direct qualification, while the third and fourth-placed teams will have to fight for their place through additional playoff rounds. Japan’s flawless performance in the qualifiers has reaffirmed their position as one of the continent’s strongest teams, demonstrating their determination to make an impact in the upcoming tournament.
The game initially lacked intensity in the first half, but Moriyasu's decision to introduce Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada in the 63rd minute proved decisive. Just three minutes after his arrival, Kamada finished off a well-orchestrated play that began with defender Hiroki Ito sending a precise pass to Ayase Ueda, who then set up Kubo for the assist. Kubo, who had been Japan’s standout performer, later added the second goal by slipping the ball past Bahrain’s goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah, securing Japan’s victory. The win places Japan firmly at the top of Group C, nine points ahead of second-placed Australia, who also enjoyed success in their match. The Socceroos, despite an early scare, convincingly defeated Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney, marking an impressive start for Patrick Kluivert as Indonesia’s new coach. Indonesia’s Kevin Diks nearly gave his side an advantage with an eighth-minute penalty that struck the post, but Australia took full control of the game thereafter. Martin Boyle opened the scoring from the penalty spot, followed by goals from Jackson Irvine, Nishan Velupillay, and Lewis Miller, further solidifying Australia’s hopes for qualification.
Meanwhile, in other Asian qualifying matches, South Korea faced a minor setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman in Group B. Hwang Hee-chan had given the Koreans a first-half lead, but a late equalizer from Ali Al-Busaidi denied them maximum points. Adding to their concerns, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in had to leave the pitch due to an ankle injury. Despite the draw, South Korea remains in first place in their group with 15 points, maintaining a four-point lead over Iraq, who are set to play Kuwait. Other matches in Group B include Jordan’s clash with Palestine, while Group A sees Iran taking on the United Arab Emirates, second-placed Uzbekistan hosting Kyrgyzstan, and reigning Asian champions Qatar facing North Korea. With the qualification rounds progressing, teams across the continent continue their battle for a spot in the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup, set to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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