Japan has officially booked its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first nation to qualify after a commanding 2-0 victory over Bahrain in the Asian qualifiers on Thursday, March 20.
Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo sealed Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, maintaining their impressive streak since their debut in 1998.
Dominance in Asian Qualifiers
The victory secured Japan’s position as one of the two automatic qualifiers from Group C in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) qualifiers, achieving qualification with three games to spare.
With this win, Japan joins tournament co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States as the first confirmed teams for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Race for Remaining Asian Slots
Asia will have at least eight representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with five more direct qualification spots still up for grabs.
- Australia is well-positioned to qualify alongside Japan in Group C.
- Iran leads Group A, with Uzbekistan and the UAE following closely.
- South Korea tops Group B, with Iraq and Jordan fighting for a spot.
The qualification phase continues through March and June, with a final mini-group stage determining two more Asian qualifiers. An intercontinental play-off will also provide an additional opportunity for a ninth Asian team to secure a World Cup ticket.
A Historic 48-Team World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding from the previous 32, allowing more nations to compete on football’s biggest stage.
Japan’s early qualification underlines their dominance in Asian football, setting the stage for another competitive campaign at the global tournament.
