Japan has officially become the first nation to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following a 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, continuing their streak since debuting in 1998.
The victory ensured 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.
Japan Joins 2026 FIFA World Cup Co-Hosts
With this achievement, Japan joins co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States as the first officially confirmed teams for the expanded 48-team tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature at least eight teams from Asia, with five more spots still available in the third-round qualifying phase.
Asian Qualification Race Heats Up
- Australia is well-positioned to qualify from Group C alongside Japan.
- Iran leads Group A, with Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) close behind.
- In Group B, the Republic of Korea tops the standings, followed by Iraq and Jordan.
The current qualification phase will run through March and June, after which a fourth-round mini-group stage will determine two additional AFC qualifiers.
An inter-confederation play-off will also offer a ninth AFC team a potential route to the tournament. The play-off will feature one team each from Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania, along with two teams from CONCACAF (North, Central America, and the Caribbean).
First-Ever 48-Team FIFA World Cup
The 2026 FIFA World Cup marks a historic expansion from 32 to 48 teams, offering more nations the opportunity to compete on football’s biggest stage.
Japan’s early qualification cements their reputation as one of Asia’s strongest footballing nations, setting the stage for another competitive World Cup campaign.
