By Kwame Bediako
Japan secured their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama on Thursday, March 20, 2025 becoming the first country to qualify. The win marked Japan’s eighth consecutive appearance at the World Cup finals and came in front of nearly 60,000 enthusiastic home fans.
The 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature an expanded field of 48 teams, up from 32 in 2022. Japan’s qualification was all but assured earlier in the day when Australia defeated Indonesia 5-1, but they ensured progression in style with goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo.
Kamada and Kubo were the heroes for Japan, with Kamada scoring just three minutes after coming on as a substitute. Kubo provided the assist with a clever reverse pass, and Kamada slotted the ball past Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla to give Japan the lead. Kubo then sealed the win with a well-placed left-footed strike from a tight angle.
Japan’s qualification is a testament to their consistent performances in Asian World Cup qualifying. The top two teams from each of the three six-team groups secure automatic qualification, while the third- and fourth-placed teams advance to an additional stage to compete for two more spots. With their spot at the 2026 World Cup secured, Japan will now focus on preparing for the tournament and making a deep run.
The win over Bahrain marked Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, a streak that dates back to 1998. With their experienced squad and talented young players like Kubo, Japan will be a force to be reckoned with at the 2026 World Cup.
