Japan Makes History! First to Qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

Japan Secures Historic Spot as First Nation to Qualify for 2026 FIFA World Cup

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, Japan defeated Bahrain 2-0, solidifying their place in history as the first country to formally qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Japan made its eighth successive appearance on football’s biggest stage with this victory, guaranteeing its spot in the prestigious tournament. The Japanese team performed an incredible effort in the match, which was part of the Asian qualifying round. With three games remaining, Japan qualified after a goalless first half. Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scored the game’s first goals in the second half.

Having made it to the World Cup every year since its debut in 1998, Japan has solidified its position as a dominant force in Asian football. The Samurai Blue continue to show their supremacy on the global scene after making it to the round of 16 in the previous two tournaments. With the win, Japan secured one of the two automatic qualifying berths in the Asian qualifiers’ Group C. With this victory, they become the first teams confirmed for the 2026 World Cup, joining co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the tournament’s expansion to 48 participants, at least eight Asian Football Confederation (AFC) countries will guarantee berths, with a ninth potentially available through inter-confederation play-offs.

The current third round of qualifying offers five additional Asian teams the chance to advance. Australia is likewise well-positioned to progress in Group C. Iran is at the top of the standings in Group A, followed by the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. South Korea leads Group B, although Iraq and Jordan are not far behind. In the upcoming months, the certification procedure will continue until June 2025. A competition with two groups of three teams each will take place in the fourth round after the third. A spot in the World Cup will also be awarded to the winners of these groups.

Additionally, an Asian team will have one final opportunity to qualify in an inter-confederation play-off. One team each from Asia, Africa (CAF), South America (CONMEBOL), and Oceania (OFC) will compete in this play-off, in addition to two CONCACAF teams. Japan now has the luxury of spending a lot of time getting ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after securing their early qualification. The team’s goal is to outperform its previous results and advance further in the competition, perhaps even making it to the quarterfinals or beyond. Football fans around the world will be closely watching Japan’s preparations and the remaining qualifying matches as the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws near to see which other teams will compete alongside them.

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