Japan Triumphs Over China PR With A Stunning 7-0 Victory In World Cup Qualifiers

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Japan began their 2026 World Cup qualifying third-round campaign with a commanding 7-0 win over China PR at Saitama Stadium. Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma scored to give the hosts a comfortable two-goal lead by half-time. Hajime Moriyasu's team then showcased their prowess in the second half, with Takumi Minamino scoring twice, followed by goals from Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda, and Takefusa Kubo.

Shortly after the break, Minamino netted twice within six minutes. Ito then scored his second goal in three appearances against China in World Cup qualifiers. The Reims attacker assisted Japan's final two goals, first setting up Maeda and then finding Kubo, who fired past Wang Dalei.

The match saw Japan take the lead in the 12th minute when Endo headed home Kubo's corner-kick. Mitoma added a second goal for Japan two minutes into added time. This early dominance set the tone for the rest of the game.

Japan restricted their opponents to just one shot (none on target) in two consecutive World Cup qualifiers. China registered an expected goals (xG) figure of only 0.03. Moriyasu's side controlled the game from start to finish, achieving 102 final-third entries compared to China's 33 and recording 33 touches in the opposition's box versus China's single touch.

Kubo and Minamino stood out for Japan, each recording four shots and two shots on target. Their performance was instrumental in Japan's overwhelming victory.

This emphatic win sets a strong precedent for Japan as they continue their World Cup qualifying journey. The team's ability to dominate both defensively and offensively will be crucial as they face tougher opponents ahead.