
Japan
1st in FIFA World Cup Qualifying - AFC2023 Fixtures







Yukinari Sugawara hopes a recent international high can help his bid to help Southampton avoid relegation.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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 |
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 |