Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo secured a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday.
The dominant Asian Group C leaders struggled to find their rhythm on a chilly night in Saitama until Crystal Palace forward Kamada broke the deadlock in the 66th minute.
Kubo sealed the win in the 87th minute, confirming Japan’s place at next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance.
Earlier in the evening, Australia’s 5-1 victory over Indonesia meant Japan would have qualified even with a draw. However, Kamada ensured they did so in style, scoring just three minutes after coming on as a substitute by slotting home Kubo’s reverse pass past Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.
Real Sociedad’s Kubo added the second with a precise left-footed shot from a tight angle.
At the final whistle, Japan’s players sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate with the home crowd of nearly 60,000.
Japan entered the match unbeaten in the Asian third round of qualifiers, winning five and drawing one.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu fielded an experienced line-up featuring Premier League players, including Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.
Captain Endo thought he had given Japan an early lead in the ninth minute, but his goal was disallowed by VAR.
Japan continued to push forward, but Bahrain threatened on the counterattack, with Komail Al Aswad missing a key chance just after the half-hour mark.
Mitoma also squandered an opportunity, firing over the bar in first-half injury time.
Moriyasu made changes midway through the second half, bringing on Kamada and Junya Ito for Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan. The substitutions paid off immediately, with Kamada scoring his ninth international goal.
Kubo nearly added another with a curling effort that Lutfalla saved, but he eventually found the net in the closing moments, securing Japan’s win and a ticket to North America.
