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Japan secured their place in the 2026 World Cup with overwhelming strength. |
Following their 2-0 victory over Bahrain on March 20th, the "Blue Samurai" marked their eighth consecutive appearance at the world's biggest football tournament and will head to North America, the host nation, next summer.
Japan's near-perfect qualifying record demonstrates their overwhelming strength, and also raises the question: Is it time for this team to dream bigger at the World Cup next year?
Impression
Under the guidance of coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan displayed an incredible performance in Group C of the third round of the Asian qualifiers. With 19 points after 7 matches and an unbeaten record (6 wins and 1 draw), they are 9 points ahead of Australia - the second-placed team.
The 2-0 victory against Bahrain is clear evidence of this team's sharp attacking ability and consistency. Furthermore, Japan has not lost a single match since the start of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region.
In the second qualifying round, they won all their matches, scoring 24 goals in 6 games and conceding none. In the third qualifying round, Australia was the only team to earn a point against Japan, in a 1-1 draw last October.
Previously, Japan had already captured the world's attention by defeating two giants, Spain and Germany, at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, or crushing Turkey and Germany (again) in friendly matches in 2023.
The "Blue Samurai" have surpassed the general standard of Asian football, approaching the level of top teams in Europe and South America.
A formidable force
Coach Moriyasu, who took over the national team after the 2018 World Cup, has built a squad that perfectly combines youth and experience. Of the 27 Japanese players called up this March, 22 are currently playing in European leagues – a number that speaks volumes about their superior quality compared to the rest of the continent.
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Kubo's brilliant performance helped Japan qualify for the World Cup. |
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), and Take Kubo (Real Sociedad) continue to be the brightest stars in Japan's attack, with current transfer values reaching tens of millions of euros. But the team from the Land of the Rising Sun doesn't depend solely on them.
Another striker, Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), leads the scoring charts in the qualifiers with 8 goals. Even Daizen Maeda, Celtic's main striker this season in the Champions League, wasn't used for a single minute against Bahrain.
In defense, goalkeeper Zion Suzuki – a 22-year-old talent with Ghanaian and Japanese ancestry – has emerged as a solid anchor, excelling with Parma in Serie A this season. After years of focusing on youth development, Japanese football is reaping the rewards with numerous players who are starters in top European leagues.
More than half of Japan's starting lineup in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers regularly plays in the Champions League or Europa League this season, guaranteeing competitiveness and top-level performances.
Japan has a golden opportunity to assert its position among the world's football powerhouses at the 2026 World Cup. With a place in the 2026 World Cup already secured, coach Moriyasu has not hidden his ambition to lead Japan beyond the round of 16 – the best achievement the country has ever attained in its history.
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