Japan has secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first team to do so through qualification 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, ensuring the Samurai Blue’s progression with three matches to spare in the third round of the Asian qualifiers.
While co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States had already been assured of their spots in the expanded tournament, Japan is the first team to earn qualification through competitive play.
Asia has been allocated eight automatic spots in the 48-team World Cup, with an additional slot available through intercontinental playoffs.
The third round of qualifying features 18 teams divided into three groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the World Cup.
Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups will proceed to the fourth round to compete for the remaining spots.
Under the guidance of Hajime Moriyasu, Japan reached the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where they were eliminated by Croatia on penalties.
Their road to the 2026 tournament has been dominant, winning all six matches in the second round and remaining unbeaten in the third round with six wins and one draw.
Among those in Japan’s starting lineup were Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, and Takumi Minamino, who was part of Liverpool’s 2020 Premier League-winning squad. Their qualification marks Japan’s eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Australia, who secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Bahrain, sit in second place, trailing Japan by nine points.
As Japan celebrates their early qualification, European teams, including England and Wales, are set to begin their own World Cup qualifying campaigns this week.
