Japan has made history by becoming the first team to officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup, following a decisive 2-0 victory over Bahrain on March 20, 2025. The match, held in Saitama, showcased the prowess of the "Samurai Blue," with Daichi Kamada opening the scoring in the 66th minute, followed by Takefusa Kubo sealing the win in the 87th minute.
This latest win has solidified Japan's position at the top of Group C in the Asian qualifying rounds, amassing 19 points from 7 matches. With this triumph, Japan is 9 points ahead of second-placed Australia and at least 10 points ahead of other teams in the group, including Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, and Bahrain. Their performance ensures that they will finish among the top two teams in the group, directly securing their place in next year's World Cup.
Japan's journey in the qualifiers has been remarkable. In the second round, they demonstrated their dominance, achieving a perfect 18 points after 6 matches, scoring an impressive 24 goals while conceding none against North Korea, Myanmar, and Syria. As they moved into the third qualifying round, Japan continued their strong form, only dropping points in a draw against Australia during their first leg on October 15, 2024. In the following matches, they emerged victorious, scoring 22 goals and conceding only 2.
The qualification marks a significant achievement for Japanese football. This will be Japan's first World Cup with a 48-team format, introducing 8.5 slots for Asian teams at the tournament. Previously, Japan has participated in the World Cup finals seven times, but never before has the team secured qualification with three matches remaining in the qualifying rounds.
Under the guidance of coach Hajime Moriyasu, the team's impressive record thus far has made them a force to be reckoned with as they prepare for the World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In an additional note of interest, Australia recently demonstrated their strength by defeating Indonesia 5-1, while South Korea held Oman to a 1-1 draw, positioning themselves in a competitive atmosphere within the qualifying rounds. Despite this, Japan's early qualification marks them as a standout performer in the Asia region.
This historical achievement underscores Japan's status in the world of football, maintaining a FIFA ranking of 15th and being number one in Asia. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how this dynamic team will perform on the global stage next summer.
With the newly expanded World Cup format, Japan's entry as one of Asia's representatives sets a hopeful tone for not just the team, but also for football fans across the continent. As they prepare for the World Cup, anticipation builds around the matches yet to come in the qualifiers and the team's prospects in 2026.
