The Blue Samari defeated Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, on Thursday to book the team's spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is the first country outside of the three host nations ...

Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo gave them a 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday. The runaway Asian Group C ...

The Samurai Blue have become the first nation to qualify for the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the USA alongside the co-hosts. Japan have become the first team to join co-hosts Canada, Mexico ...

The legendary Japanese player, still going strong and playing at age 58, marvels at how far football has come in his country.

SAITAMA, Japan -- Given Japan have booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it may seem like there is little for them to play in the their final three games in the third round of Asian ...

SAITAMA, Japan — History has been ... play all of their matches in the 2026 FIFA World Cup here. Two teams will get the final spots via a six-team tournament played out among one AFC team ...

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. Other teams could follow in the current international window. Next year's ...

SAITAMA, Japan -- With three games still to go in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Japan have sealed qualification -- the first team to do so all across the globe ...

Japan have become the first nation to book their ... The Asian Football Confederation is guaranteed eight spots in the 48-team tournament with an additional place available through inter ...

The nation secured its berth in the expanded 48-team field on Thursday with ... a tune-up friendly against Slovakia. FIFA’s own rankings currently have Japan in 15th, behind Morocco and just ...

The 2026 World Cup will have a record 48 teams, and Japan became the first nation excluding the three hosts to secure a spot. Other teams could follow in the current international window.

SAITAMA, Japan Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium on Thursday. Second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo ...