Japan

Japan

1st in FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC
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Yukinari Sugawara hopes a recent international high can help his bid to help Southampton avoid relegation.

Asian qualifying: Can Japan win the World Cup? Irvine the new Cahill? Asian qualifying: Can Japan win the World Cup? Irvine the new Cahill?

After matchday eight of Asia's World Cup qualifiers, ESPN's writers answer the burning questions, provide analysis and break down the biggest performances across the continent.

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With the international break done and dusted with all the major World Cup contenders in action, who's looking sharp right now and who needs work in the next 14 months? LME breaks it down.

Post-qualification hangover immediately offers areas of improvement for Japan Post-qualification hangover immediately offers areas of improvement for Japan

Japan want to win the World Cup. Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia should tell them what they need to get there.

With qualification in the bag, quest to win FIFA World Cup now begins for Japan With qualification in the bag, quest to win FIFA World Cup now begins for Japan

Japan are the first team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their attention is now on winning it.

Ranking 2026 World Cup national team contenders by talent Ranking 2026 World Cup national team contenders by talent

Who will win the 2026 World Cup? A team stacked with talent, surely. We've devised a way to rank countries by the talent in their squads.

Unstoppable Samurai Blue: Reliving Japan's charge to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Unstoppable Samurai Blue: Reliving Japan's charge to the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Japan are the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Here's how they did so -- in sheer dominant fashion.

Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo react to Japan's World Cup 2026 qualification Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo react to Japan's World Cup 2026 qualification

Japan became the first side to reach the 2026 World Cup, qualifying after beating Bahrain.

Kamada, Kubo strike as Japan become first nation to qualify for World Cup Kamada, Kubo strike as Japan become first nation to qualify for World Cup

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF JAPAN PLAYING BAHRAIN IN A SOCCER WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

World Cup 2026: Japan become first team to qualify for tournament World Cup 2026: Japan become first team to qualify for tournament

Japan beat Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama on Thursday to become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

WCQ - AFC Table

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Japan 8 +22 20
2 Australia 8 +7 13
3 Saudi Arabia 8 -2 10
4 Indonesia 8 -6 9
5 Bahrain 8 -8 6
6 China 8 -13 6
Full Table

Team Leaders

Top Scorers

# Player Goals M A
Takumi Minamin.. 4 12 2
Ritsu Doan 3 12 4
Daichi Kamada 3 10 1

Top Assists

# Player Assists M G
Junya Ito 10 9 1
Takefusa Kubo 6 9 3
Ritsu Doan 4 12 3