Japan Secure World Cup Spot with Victory Over Bahrain

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Japan confirmed their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium 2002. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo provided the goals as Hajime Moriyasu’s side extended their near perfect record in Group C of the AFC qualifiers.

It marks Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup qualification, a remarkable turnaround for a nation that, until the early 1990s, had never reached the tournament. For 40 years, World Cup football was an unattainable dream, but the establishment of the J.League in 1993 laid the foundations for sustained success. Since their breakthrough in 1998, Japan have never missed a tournament—and this time, their ambitions go beyond simply reaching the finals. With a talented squad at their disposal, the Samurai Blue are determined to progress beyond the Round of 16, a stage that has repeatedly proven to be their ceiling.
They become the first AFC team to qualify, joining hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada in the tournament.

Japan’s Second-Half Quality Tells
Despite the scoreline, Bahrain delivered a disciplined defensive display for much of the game, frustrating Japan’s attacking options in the first half. Amine Benadi and Hamad Al Shamsan stood firm at the back, while Wataru Endo’s 9th-minute header was ruled out for an Ayase Ueda handball following a VAR review. Kaoru Mitoma squandered a golden opportunity in first-half stoppage time, failing to find the target from close range.

Bahrain, under Dragan Talajić, threatened on the counter-attack. Mahdi Abduljabbar miscued an effort from Ali Madan’s early cross, while Mohamed Marhoon and Komail Al Aswad tested Japan’s backline. The visitors earned several promising set pieces but were unable to make them count.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 66th minute when Kamada, introduced as a substitute, latched onto Kubo’s pass to slot home from inside the box. Seven minutes later, Kubo turned from provider to scorer, cutting inside and beating Ebrahim Lutfalla at his near post—an uncharacteristic lapse from the Bahraini number 1.

Bahrain Unable to Find a Response
Bahrain looked for a way back into the match and nearly found one immediately after conceding. A 68th-minute corner saw Komail Al Aswad’s effort blocked, while Mahdi Al Humaidan forced Zion Suzuki into a smart save a minute later. However, Kubo’s second goal put the contest beyond reach, leaving Bahrain with too much to do.

Talajić admitted his side had come up against high-quality opposition but remained optimistic. “We matched them for long spells, but their quality showed. That second goal was a tough one to take,” he said. Meanwhile, Japan boss Moriyasu credited his team’s composure. “Bahrain were tough, but we found the moments that mattered.”

Australia Strengthen Qualification Bid
Elsewhere in Group C, Australia took a significant step toward qualification with a 5-1 win over Indonesia in Sydney. Martin Boyle’s penalty and a clever Nishan Velupillay lob put the Socceroos in control, before a Jackson Irvine brace and Lewis Miller’s header sealed the result. Kevin Diks had briefly drawn Indonesia level but missed a penalty just minutes later.

The result sees Australia move to 10 points, with Indonesia remaining on six. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia (who face China later), and China are all tightly packed with 5-6 points, making the race for second place increasingly tense.

Bahrain’s Qualification Hopes Still Alive
With Japan’s place confirmed, Bahrain must now turn their attention to a crucial fixture against Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on March 25 at 4:46 PM Bahrain time. They then host Saudi Arabia on June 5 before concluding their campaign against China on June 10.

While Japan are already looking ahead to North America, Bahrain still have plenty to play for. Three matches remain, and with the battle for second place wide open, their World Cup hopes remain very much alive.