Japan became the first nation to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Bahrain 2-0 on Thursday.
Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored in the second half to seal the victory and ensure Japan’s ninth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Despite a hesitant start on a chilly evening in Saitama, the Group C leaders finally settled into their rhythm.
Crystal Palace’s Kamada broke the tie in the 66th minute, shortly after coming on as a substitute. Real Sociedad’s Kubo added a second in the 87th minute to round out an amazing performance.
Even before the game began, Japan was on the verge of qualifying, since Australia’s dominating 5-1 victory against Indonesia meant a draw would have been sufficient.
However, the Samurai Blue were keen to do the job in style, much to the pleasure of the roughly 60,000 supporters in attendance.
Kamada made an immediate impact, latching onto a beautiful reverse pass from Kubo and slotting the ball past Ebrahim Lutfalla, Bahrain’s goalie.
Kubo then sealed the victory with a well-placed left-footed shot from a tight angle, sending the Japanese players into frenzied celebrations at the final whistle.
Under coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan has dominated the Asian qualifiers, going undefeated with five wins and one draw.
The team had a formidable lineup, featuring Premier League talents Wataru Endo of Liverpool and Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton.
Japan almost seized the lead early in the game when Endo scored in the ninth minute, but VAR ruled it out.
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The hosts kept applying pressure, but Bahrain looked dangerous on the counter, with Komail Al Aswad wasting a golden opportunity before halftime.
Mitoma also squandered a wonderful opportunity in stoppage time, shooting over the crossbar. Moriyasu recognized the need for new energy and introduced Kamada and Junya Ito midway through the second half, a decision that paid instant benefits.
Kubo, who had been a continuous menace, forced a great save from Lutfalla before finally scoring in the dying minutes.
With this triumph, Japan not only qualified, but also solidified their position as one of Asia’s strongest footballing nations as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
