Japan has become the first team to officially qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Samurai Blue sealed their spot with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday in Saitama.
The Japanese team continued their strong form in the Asian qualifiers, securing their sixth victory in seven matches to guarantee a top-two finish in their group. This automatically grants them a place in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Goals from Daichi Kamada (66th minute) and Takefusa Kubo (87th minute) ensured Japan’s latest triumph, confirming their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance since making their tournament debut in 1998.
Japan has consistently been one of Asia’s strongest footballing nations, having reached the Round of 16 on four occasions. Their women’s team has been even more successful, winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011 and finishing as runners-up in 2015.
With Asia allotted eight spots in the tournament—plus the three host nations automatically qualifying—other teams will now battle for remaining slots in the coming months.
Japan’s qualification cements their reputation as a powerhouse in Asian football, and fans will now eagerly anticipate how the team will perform on the global stage in 2026.
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.
