Japan sealed their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a decisive 2-0 victory over Bahrain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers 3rd Round Group C clash at Saitama Stadium on Thursday.
With this victory, Hajime Moriyasu’s men moved to 19 points from seven games, guaranteeing a top-two finish in Group C and securing their ticket to the global finals. Meanwhile, Bahrain remains on six points with three matches left, keeping their hopes alive for a second-place finish or progression to the next phase of qualification. They now face a crucial encounter against Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Bahrain, under the guidance of Dragan Talajic, showed resilience in the opening minutes. In the sixth minute, Mahdi Abduljabbar attempted an acrobatic overhead kick off an Ali Madan delivery, but his effort sailed over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Kubo’s movement carved an opening for Japan, only for Amine Benaddi’s last-ditch sliding block to deny the Real Sociedad playmaker inside the penalty area.
Japan thought they had taken the lead shortly after when Wataru Endo found the net from close range. However, referee Abdulrahman Al Jassim disallowed the goal following a VAR review, ruling that Ayase Ueda had handled the ball in the buildup.
Despite dominating possession, Japan struggled to penetrate Bahrain’s disciplined defense. A well-timed block from Waleed Al Hayam denied Ueda from a prime position, while Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma fired over the bar after being played through by Hidemasa Morita.
Recognizing the need for fresh attacking impetus, Moriyasu introduced Kamada and Junya Ito in the 63rd minute. The tactical adjustment paid off almost instantly, as Japan broke the deadlock three minutes later.
Hiroki Ito launched a precise pass from deep to Ueda, who used his physicality to shield the ball before laying it off to Kubo. The Real Sociedad star then set up Kamada, who showed composure to slot home despite being nudged from behind.
Bahrain attempted to mount a response, with Mahdi Al Humaidan nearly capitalizing on a rare mistake by Japan’s goalkeeper, Zion Suzuki. However, Kubo sealed the victory in the 87th minute, beating Ebrahim Lutfallah at his near post with a clever finish, sparking jubilant celebrations among the home fans.
With their qualification now secured, Japan will look to continue their dominance in Group C. Bahrain, still in the race for a qualification spot, faces a must-win encounter against Indonesia in Jakarta, while Japan sets their sights on their upcoming fixtures as they prepare for another World Cup campaign.
Credit Photo : AFC
