Japan players throw water at each other to celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Samurai Blue Become First Country To Qualify For 2026 WC
Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium on Thursday. Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo ensured the Samurai Blue secured a spot in Asia Group C라이브 바카라 top two automatic qualification places. At its eighth successive World Cup, Japan joins co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico in the expanded 48-team tournament. The top two from each of the three six-team groups in the third round of Asian qualifying advance to the World Cup while the third- and fourth-placed teams advance to another stage to compete for two more places.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan players celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Junya Ito, left, and Bahrain's Abdulla Sultan Alkhalasi vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Daichi Kamada shoots to score the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Ritsu Doan runs with ball ahead of Bahrain's Abdulla Sultan Alkhalasi during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan players celebrate with teammate Takefusa Kubo who scored his side's second goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Ayase Ueda, center, runs ahead with the ball during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Daichi Kamada (15) is challenged by Bahrain's Amine Mohamad Benaddi, right, during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Japan's Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
AFC World Cup Qualifiers: Japan vs Bahrain
| Photo: AP/Eugene Hoshiko
Bahrain's Mohamed Marhoon, center, fights for the ball with Japan's Kou Itakura, left, and Wataru Endo during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan.
Show comments