On March 20, 2025, Japan became the first non-host nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Bahrain. Goals by Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo sealed the win, marking Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance since 1998.
With this win, Japan has claimed one of the two automatic qualification spots from Group C in the Asian qualifiers, with three matches still remaining. The expanded 48-team format will see the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sending at least eight teams to the tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Other Teams to Watch
- Australia is in a strong position in Group C.
- Iran leads Group A, followed by Uzbekistan and the UAE.
- South Korea tops Group B, with Iraq and Jordan trailing.
🚀 The qualification process continues until June 2025, leading to a fourth round and an inter-confederation play-off offering one more Asian nation a final shot at qualifying.
