Japan secured their place at the 2026 World Cup after a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday, becoming the first team to officially qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo sealed the win for the Asian Group C leaders on a chilly night in Saitama.
Crystal Palace forward Kamada broke the deadlock in the 66th minute, just three minutes after coming on as a substitute. He latched onto Kubo’s clever reverse pass and slotted the ball past Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.
Real Sociedad’s Kubo added a second goal in the 87th minute with a precise left-footed finish from a tight angle, ensuring Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Japan’s qualification was already guaranteed following Australia’s 5-1 win over Indonesia earlier in the day, but Kamada’s goal ensured they advanced in style in front of nearly 60,000 fans.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu fielded an experienced line-up, including Premier League stars Wataru Endo (Liverpool) and Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton). Despite early pressure, Japan struggled to convert chances. Captain Endo had a ninth-minute goal disallowed by VAR, while Mitoma missed a clear opportunity in first-half stoppage time.
Bahrain posed a threat on the counterattack, with Komail Al Aswad missing a key chance after the half-hour mark. However, Moriyasu’s tactical changes paid off, as substitutes Kamada and Junya Ito made an immediate impact.
Kubo nearly scored again late in the match, forcing a fine save from Lutfalla, but he eventually found the net to cap a dominant performance.
At the final whistle, Japan’s players celebrated on the pitch with their supporters, marking another milestone in their impressive World Cup qualification journey.
