Japan Becomes The First Team To Qualify For The 2026 World Cup Finals

Japan qualified for the 2026 World Cup after overthrowing Bahrain 2-0 (doc. AFC).

JAKARTA - Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup round on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

This assurance was obtained after Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored in the second half to give the Blue Samurai a 2-0 win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium.

After a disappointing first half, Moriyasu included Crystal Palace midfielder Kamada in the 63rd minute. Within three minutes, he had put his team ahead.

The 28-year-old completed a slick movement that started with defender Hiroki Ito who found Ayase Ueda in the middle of the field. Ueda then passed to Kubo which was completed by baiting Kamada to score.

Kubo then added the second goal three minutes from the end of the game. He has become the strongest threat to Japan and it is appropriate for the playmaker Real Sociedad to add a second goal.

He outwitted goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfollah at his close post to ensure victory keeping Japan safe at the top of Group C of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Third Round.

This victory guarantees Japan will finish in the top two in the standings with three games remaining and making them qualify for the eighth consecutive World Cup finals.

The top two teams in each of the three Asian Zone 2026 World Cup Qualification groups will certainly advance to the finals which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.

Meanwhile, the team in third and fourth positions advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers to fight for two tickets from that route.

This result means Japan continues to lead Group C with 19 points, a nine-point difference from Australia which is in second place.

Socceroos managed to overcome the initial threat to beat Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney in Patrick Kluivert's first match as the visitors coach.

Kevin Diks failed to put Indonesia ahead after his penalty kick hit the post in the eighth minute.

Martin Boyle put Australia ahead of the penalty spot and Jackson Irvine scored twice. Nishan Velupillay and Lewis Miller also contributed goals to boost Australia's expectations.