For Hajime Moriyasu and his Japanese team, it’s a simple equation: Beat Bahrain and the 2026 World Cup champion.
If Japan beat Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on Thursday, Japan will be the first to join the qualifiers for co-hosts of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
After six wins and two draws in an unbeaten match so far, Samurai Blue’s most popular match has maintained its eighth match with Bahrain for the eighth straight win, which beat the team 5-0 on September. Another victory would give Japan at least 10 points in third place, with only three games left in Group C.
“There is no decision yet, and I believe we should prioritize how we can win the game in front of us and ensure that we are guaranteed to qualify for the World Cup,” said Moriasu, who led Japan into the second round of the 2022 World Cup.
Moriyasu chose a roster based primarily in Europe, which included Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Brighton’s Kaoru Metoma and Hove Albion, which are also British Premier League. Japan won two wins in November’s qualifying match, beating Indonesia and China 4-0.
The second automatic position behind Japan, there is a fierce five-way quarrel, and Australia is only one point ahead of the other four teams.
The football team has played in the last five World Cups and held third place in Sydney. Patrick Kluivert served as Indonesian head coach’s first game after replacing Shin Tae-Yong in January.
Indonesia was last qualified for the 1938 World Cup – then the match of the Netherlands East Indies – and it was at a high position after defeating Saudi Arabia in its last qualifier in November. The Saudis’ goal is to qualify for the seventh World Cup, which will be at home in China with only one time.
South Korea’s Group B led Group B with 14 points and defeated Oman in Goyang north of Seoul, taking an important step in his 11th consecutive appearance.
Coach Hong Myung-Bo was charged with a tendon injury to Achilles, which made Bayern Munich star defender Kim Min-jae unavailable, publicly criticizing German clubs.
“Unfortunately, Bayern Munich did not properly protect the players to prevent injuries,” Hong said. “So we are in a situation where we have to play these important games without a key player.”
Iraq was three points behind in second place, with Jordan in third place at home in Kuwait.
If Iran Group A defeats Tehran’s United Arab Emirates, it will qualify for seventh place and will qualify for third place.
Uzbekistan ranks second, with Kyrgyzstan and Katar rank fourth, six points behind automatic venues, occupying the last North Korea.
The Asian qualifying path will have a place in the 2026 World Cup in the third round of the first two countries in each of the three sixes. The third and fourth place results will advance to the fourth round, where the winners of the two three teams provide direct positions. The fourth round runner-up will enter the fifth round of the Mainland playoffs in November, with the winner of the home run series going to the FIFA playoffs of six teams as an Asian representative, winning the remaining spot in the 48 teams in the World Cup.
