Japan become First Team to qualify for World Cup 2026 after beating Bahrain

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Takefusa Kubo played a pivotal role as Japan secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday.

The Blue Samurai have become the first team to qualify for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Despite dominating possession, Japan had to wait until the 66th minute to break the deadlock. Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada opened the scoring with a composed finish after latching onto a clever reverse pass from Kubo. The Real Sociedad forward then turned from provider to scorer, sealing the victory late in the game with a precise side-footed strike that found the near post of Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfallah.

The victory extends Japan's perfect record in the qualifying campaign, maintaining their position at the top of their group with a nine-point lead over second-placed Australia. This result ensures Japan will appear at their eighth consecutive World Cup, continuing their remarkable consistency on the global stage.

South Korea Held to 1-1 Draw by Oman, Delaying World Cup Qualification

Meanwhile, South Korea's path to the 2026 World Cup hit a minor setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Oman in Seoul. Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Hwang Hee-chan gave Korea the lead in the 41st minute with a well-taken goal, but Oman fought back in the closing stages. Ali Al Busaidi equalized with just 10 minutes remaining, denying Korea the victory they needed to secure early qualification.

Despite the draw, South Korea remains at the top of their group, holding a four-point lead over Iraq. However, they will need to wait for their next qualifying matches to confirm their place in the tournament.