Japan has officially booked its spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday. This win makes Japan the first non-host nation to qualify for the tournament, joining co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The match remained goalless in the first half, but Japan took control in the second, with Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo finding the back of the net. This victory ensures Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, continuing their impressive streak since their first qualification in 1998.

With three matches still remaining in the Asian qualifiers, Japan has secured one of the two automatic qualification spots from Group C. The expansion of the 2026 World Cup to 48 teams means that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will have at least eight representatives in the tournament.

Other teams are also closing in on qualification. Australia is well-positioned to advance from Group C, while Iran currently leads Group A, followed by Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates. In Group B, South Korea tops the standings, with Iraq and Jordan trailing closely behind.

The qualification process is set to continue until June, when the third round concludes. The fourth round will then feature two groups of three teams, with the top team from each securing a World Cup berth. Additionally, an inter-confederation play-off will provide one more Asian team with a final shot at qualification. This play-off will involve teams from Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania, and two teams from CONCACAF.

With Japan leading the way, more Asian nations will be looking to secure their spots in the coming months.

-IANS