Japan has officially become the first nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a commanding 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday, March 20.
Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo sealed Japan’s place in their eighth consecutive men’s World Cup, solidifying their reputation as an Asian football powerhouse.
A Streak of World Cup Success
Since making their World Cup debut in 1998, Japan has qualified for every edition, reaching the Round of 16 in the last two tournaments. Their latest triumph ensures they will once again compete on the grandest stage of world football.
With this victory, Japan secured one of the two automatic qualification spots in Group C of the Asian qualifiers, with three games to spare.
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This achievement makes them the first non-host nation to book their ticket to the expanded 48-team tournament, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Asian Contenders: Who’s Next?
At least eight nations from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will feature in the 2026 World Cup. Five more teams could join Japan by progressing through the third qualifying round, which consists of three groups of six nations.
- Australia is well positioned in Group C to secure qualification.
- Iran currently leads Group A, with Uzbekistan and UAE battling for second place.
- In Group B, South Korea is in pole position, ahead of Iraq and Jordan.
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What’s Next in the Qualification Race?
The current qualification round continues this month and concludes in June. From there, a fourth round will determine two additional qualifiers through a mini-group format.
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Additionally, Asia could potentially send a ninth team to the World Cup through the inter-confederation playoffs, where one AFC representative will compete against teams from Africa, South America, Oceania, and CONCACAF.
