Japan have officially secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and became the first team to qualify for the major evets alongside the co-hosts Canada, Mexico and USA. Japan Who continuing their remarkable run of consecutive appearances since 1998 in the football world cup events. The Samurai Blue once again proved their dominance in the Asian qualifiers, combining experience, tactical discipline, and attacking flair to earn their World Cup ticket.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) was allocated eight direct qualification spots for the 2026 tournament. Japan entered the qualifiers as one of the region’s top-ranked teams and quickly lived up to expectations.
The Samurai Blue have been in Great form during the AFC preliminaries, and secure their ticket for the 48-team tournament which to be run from June-July in 2026 with a 2-0 win over Bahrain in Saitama on 20 March 2025, secured by second-half goals from Daichi Kamada (66) and Takefusa Kubo (87).
“I didn’t expect things to go this smoothly,” said midfielder Daichi Kamada after the qualification-sealing victory. “I believe it’s the result of everyone’s hard work as a team. We all know this isn’t something that happens easily. We struggled a lot in the last qualifiers, so this time I feel truly relieved and incredibly happy.”
In the second round of AFC qualifying, Japan faced teams like Syria, North Korea, and Myanmar. They won all matches with commanding performances, scoring freely while maintaining a strong defense. This dominance ensured they comfortably topped their group and advanced to the next stage.
Key Players Leading the Charge
- Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) – creative spark and goal threat.
- Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton) – explosive winger with key assists.
- Wataru Endo (Liverpool) – midfield general and captain.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal) – defensive powerhouse.
- Daichi Kamada (Lazio) – pivotal in attacking transitions.
Historic Achievement
With WC26 qualification secured, Japan will appear in their eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup (1998–2026) — a record for any Asian nation to play in world cup tournament. Their consistent performance highlights Japan’s rise as a global football power and a serious contender on the world stage.
📊 Japan’s Qualification Summary – FIFA World Cup 2026
| Stage | Opponents | Matches Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals Scored | Goals Conceded | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC Round 2 | Syria, North Korea, Myanmar | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 1st (Group Leaders) |
| AFC Round 3 | South Korea, Iran, Australia, Saudi Arabia (example group) | Ongoing / Completed Early | 5 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 1st / Qualified |
| Overall Record | – | 11 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 4 | ✅ Qualified for 2026 World Cup |