Japan Becomes First Nation to Qualify for 2026 World Cup Through Qualifiers

Japan secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, becoming the first nation to earn a spot through the qualification process after a decisive 2-0 victory over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium. Goals from Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo in the second half sealed the win, ensuring Japan’s progression with three games remaining in Asia’s third-round qualifying stage. 

The Samurai Blue, managed by Hajime Moriyasu, dominated their qualifying campaign, remaining unbeaten with six wins and one draw in the third round. They previously swept all six matches in the second round, underlining their status as Asia’s top-ranked team. Japan joins host nations Canada, Mexico, and the United States in the 48-team tournament, which will mark the World Cup’s first expansion from 32 to 48 teams. 

Road to Qualification 
Asia’s qualification structure guarantees eight direct slots for the 2026 World Cup, with a ninth available via intercontinental playoffs. Eighteen teams are divided into three groups of six in the third round, with the top two from each group automatically qualifying. Japan leads Group B with 19 points, nine clear of second-placed Australia, who thrashed Bahrain 5-1 earlier in the week. Teams finishing third or fourth will enter a fourth-round playoff for remaining berths. 

World Cup Pedigree 
Japan, which has now qualified for eight consecutive World Cups, reached the Round of 16 at the 2022 tournament in Qatar before falling to Croatia in a penalty shootout. Moriyasu’s squad featured several European-based stars, including Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma, and former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino, a 2020 Premier League champion. 

Regional Dominance
The victory extended Japan’s commanding form in Asian qualifiers, where they have not lost a match since 2021. Attention now shifts to other continental races, with European qualification beginning this week. England and Wales are among the teams set to kick off their campaigns for the expanded global event, which will be jointly hosted across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. 

Japan’s early qualification underscores their regional supremacy and sets the stage for a potential deep run in 2026, as they aim to surpass their historic Round of 16 ceiling