SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — 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 ensured the Samurai Blue secured a spot in Asia Group C's top two automatic qualification places.
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South Korea's Son Heung-min, left, and Oman's Jameel Al Yahmadi in action during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korea's Lee Kang-in, left, and Oman's Abdullah Fawaz, right, fight for the ball during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammate Son Heung-min, right, during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Indonesia's Ole Romenij, right, celebrates scoring against Australia's goalkeeper Mat Ryan, left, during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Indonesia's coach Patrick Kluivert walks onto the field after losing their soccer World Cup qualifying match against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Lewis Miller, left, celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal against Indonesia during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Jackson Irvine, center, jumps to score his second goal and his team's 5th against Indonesia during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan players celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japanese players acknowledge the applause from the crowd after their win against Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with their coach Hajime Moriyasu, center, after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo, center, celebrates with team players after scoring their side's second goal against Bahrain during a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025.(Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo shoots in an attempt to score during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with teammate Daichi Kamada who scored the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with teammate Daichi Kamada, second left, who scored the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan players throw water at each other to celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu speaks after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Ao Tanaka reaches for a header during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo, left, and Bahrain's Komail Hasan Alaswad vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada, left, celebrates with teammates, Takefusa Kubo, center, and Kaoru Mitoma, right, after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan players celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada shoots to score the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
At its eighth straight World Cup, Japan joins co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico in the expanded 48-team tournament.
“Thanks to the players for their efforts and the fans for their support,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said. “We knew that if we persevered that the goals would come. We will try and win our three remaining games and grow as a team.”
Earlier, second-place Australia took a big step toward a seventh appearance by defeating Indonesia 5-1 in Sydney in the visitors' first game under new coach Patrick Kluivert.
Indonesia's Kevin Diks missed a penalty in the eighth minute, and 10 minutes later Martin Boyle converted his spot kick to put the Socceroos ahead.
Nishan Velupillay and Jackson Irvine scored before the break and Lewis Miller made it 4-0 on the hour. Ole Romeny scored for Indonesia before Irvine grabbed his second and the hosts' fifth.
The top two from each of the three six-team groups in the third round of Asian qualifying advance to the World Cup while the third- and fourth-place teams advance to another stage to compete for two more places.
South Korea stayed on top of Group B and on course for an 11th straigh World Cup appearance despite drawing with Oman 1-1 in Goyang, just north of Seoul.
Hwang Hee-chan put South Korea ahead just before the break and Oman earned a point through Ali Al-Busaidi's 80th-minute goal.
“People may think this qualification round is easy but we have to work so hard for every match,” South Korea captain Son Heung-min said. “A match like this can teach us a lesson. We have to take whatever positive we can from this.”
South Korea has 15 points, three clear of both Jordan and Iraq. Iraq was held to a 2-2 draw by Kuwait, while Jordan beat the Palestinian national team 3-1.
In Group A, Iran now has 19 points after a 2-0 win over the United Arab Emirates in Tehran to stay three clear of Uzbekistan, which beat Kyrgyzstan 1-0. The UAE and Qatar, which beat North Korea 5-1, both have 10 points.
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South Korea's Son Heung-min, left, and Oman's Jameel Al Yahmadi in action during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korea's Lee Kang-in, left, and Oman's Abdullah Fawaz, right, fight for the ball during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
South Korea's Hwang Hee-chan, center, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal with teammate Son Heung-min, right, during the third round of the Asian qualifier group B match between South Korea and Oman for 2026 World Cup at at Goyang stadium in Goyang, South Korea, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Indonesia's Ole Romenij, right, celebrates scoring against Australia's goalkeeper Mat Ryan, left, during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Indonesia's coach Patrick Kluivert walks onto the field after losing their soccer World Cup qualifying match against Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Lewis Miller, left, celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal against Indonesia during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Australia's Jackson Irvine, center, jumps to score his second goal and his team's 5th against Indonesia during their soccer World Cup qualifying match at the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australia, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Japan players celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japanese players acknowledge the applause from the crowd after their win against Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with their coach Hajime Moriyasu, center, after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo, center, celebrates with team players after scoring their side's second goal against Bahrain during a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025.(Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo shoots in an attempt to score during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with teammate Daichi Kamada who scored the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan players celebrate with teammate Daichi Kamada, second left, who scored the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan players throw water at each other to celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan's head coach Hajime Moriyasu speaks after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Ao Tanaka reaches for a header during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Takefusa Kubo, left, and Bahrain's Komail Hasan Alaswad vie for the ball during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada, left, celebrates with teammates, Takefusa Kubo, center, and Kaoru Mitoma, right, after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Kyodo News via AP)
Japan players celebrate after defeating Bahrain in the World Cup qualifying soccer match at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Japan's Daichi Kamada shoots to score the opening goal during the World Cup qualifying soccer match between Japan and Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
