Japan Secures Spot in 2026 World Cup with Victory Over Bahrain

A 2-0 win, led by goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo, makes Japan the first team to qualify for the tournament after the host nations.

Japan guaranteed a top-two finish in Group C of Asia's qualifiers, marking their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Daichi Kamada scored the opening goal in the 66th minute, three minutes after being substituted into the match.
Takefusa Kubo sealed the victory with a second goal in the 87th minute, securing the 2-0 result against Bahrain.
The team celebrated their qualification in front of nearly 60,000 fans at Saitama Stadium, with coach Hajime Moriyasu emphasizing continued growth and preparation.
Australia bolstered their own qualification hopes with a 5-1 win over Indonesia, while South Korea remained on track despite a draw with Oman.