TOKYO: Japan is on the verge of making history as the first nation to secure a spot in the 2026 World Cup. With a win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on Thursday, Hajime Moriyasu’s team will guarantee a top-two finish in Group C, booking their place in next year’s tournament alongside co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Japanese side has been in dominant form during the qualifiers, dropping just two points from six matches—a 1-1 draw with Australia in October. They are currently 10 points clear of third-placed Indonesia with four games remaining, making their qualification all but certain.
Australia occupy the second automatic qualification berth in the group, nine points behind the Samurai Blue, but the Socceroos are just a point clear of Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China.
“Nothing is decided yet and I believe we should prioritise how we can play to our abilities to win the game right in front of us, and make sure of securing World Cup qualification,” Moriyasu said when naming his squad last week.
Australia host an Indonesia side playing under new coach Patrick Kluivert for the first time while Saudi Arabia face China in Riyadh.
