Japan become first nation to qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup after victory over Bahrain

Japan have become the first nation to qualify for the men’s 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 on Thursday, March 20, 2025.

Goals in the second half from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo helped Japan make an eighth consecutive men’s World Cup.

Japan have reached the round of 16 at the last two World Cups, while they first qualified in 1998, four years before hosting the global football event along with the Republic of Korea.

Thursday’s victory guaranteed Japan’s place in one of the two automatic qualifying spots in Group C of the Asian qualifiers.

Japan have done so with three games to spare, making them the first non-hosts to confirm their spot in the tournament, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States of America.

At least eight nations from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will make the 48-team World Cup next year.

Five more countries can join Japan by securing their place in this qualifying phase, the third round, which has been split into three groups all featuring six nations.

Australia are also well placed in Group C to qualify. In Group A, the Islamic Republic of Iran are top, with Uzbekistan second ahead of the United Arab Emirates.

In Group B, the Republic of Korea lead the way ahead of Iraq and Jordan.

Qualifying continues this month before this round concludes in June. Once that is over, there will be a fourth round, consisting of two groups of three, where the two group winners will also make the 2026 World Cup.

The inter-confederation play-offs could then result in a ninth Asian team featuring at the World Cup.

This play-off will consist of one team each from Asia, Africa (CAF), South America (CONMEBOL) and Oceania (OFC), and two from CONCACAF – the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football.

Credit Beatrice Laryea / Graphic Sports