FIFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: If Japan defeats Bahrain at Saitama Stadium on Thursday, it will become the first country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Hajime Moriyasu’s team is hoping to maintain its dominant play in Asia’s preliminary round.
Japan would join co-hosts the US, Canada, and Mexico in the championships the following year if it secured three points, which would ensure it a top-two position in Group C.
The Japanese are 10 points ahead of third-place Indonesia with four games remaining, having surrendered only two points from their six qualifiers, including a 1-1 tie with Australia in October.
Nine points behind the Samurai Blue, Australia holds the second automatic qualification spot in the group. However, the Socceroos are only one point ahead of China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia.
“Nothing is decided yet, and I believe we should prioritize how we can play to our abilities to win the game right in front of us and make sure of securing World Cup qualification,” Moriyasu said when naming his squad last week.
While Saudi Arabia plays China in Riyadh, Australia hosts an Indonesian team for the first time under new coach Patrick Kluivert.
Qualifiers that are perennial With Hong Myung-bo’s team needing to defeat Oman in Goyang on Thursday and then secure another victory against Jordan to secure their place, South Korea is almost certain to advance from Group B.
With 14 points from their six qualifiers, South Korea is three points ahead of Iraq in second position, and Jordan is two points behind them in third.
Palestine plays Jordan in Amman, while Iraq, which is hoping to make it to the finals for the first time since 1986, welcomes Kuwait in fifth place in Basra.
When Iran hosts the United Arab Emirates in Tehran in Group A, they can also get closer to a spot in the finals.
The team led by Amir Ghalenoei leads the Uzbek rankings by three points and is three points ahead of the United Arab Emirates.
While Qatar welcomes North Korea and needs a victory to keep their hopes of automatic qualification alive, Uzbekistan hosts Kyrgyzstan in Tashkent in hopes of making their first-ever World Cup appearance.
