Japan has become the first team to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup through qualifiers, following a 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama.
Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad winger Takefusa Kubo found the net in the second half, sealing Japan’s progression with three matches still remaining in the third round of Asian qualification.
While Canada, Mexico, and the United States had already qualified as host nations, Japan’s achievement makes them the first team to reach the tournament via the qualification process.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has been allocated eight automatic spots for the expanded 48-team World Cup, with an additional berth available through intercontinental playoffs.
In the third round of Asian qualifiers, 18 teams are divided into three groups, with the top two from each group securing a direct place in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the teams that finish third and fourth in their respective groups will advance to the fourth round, where they will compete for the remaining available spots.
Under the leadership of head coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan reached the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before being eliminated by Croatia on penalties.
During the second round of the 2026 qualifiers, Japan won all six of their matches and have remained unbeaten in the third round, boasting six victories and a draw so far.
The squad featured notable players such as Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, and Takumi Minamino, a Premier League winner with Liverpool in 2020. With this latest triumph, Japan has now qualified for their eighth consecutive World Cup.
Australia, currently in second place, sits nine points behind Japan after securing a 5-1 win over Bahrain.
Meanwhile, European qualification is set to begin this week, with teams like England and Wales preparing to kick off their campaigns.
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