HONG KONG: Japan will become the first nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday if they defeat Bahrain at Saitama Stadium as Hajime Moriyasu’s side look to continue their imperious form in Asia’s preliminaries.

Asian nations play two rounds of games, on Thursday and Tuesday, as qualifying for the enlarged 48-team tournament in North America approaches the business end in the region.

Three points would guarantee Japan a top-two finish in Group ‘C’ and see them join co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico at next year’s finals.

The Japanese have dropped only two points from their six qualifiers — a 1-1 draw with Australia in October — and are 10 points ahead of third-placed Indonesia with four games left. A draw could also be enough if other results in the group go their way.

Even if they stumble, it looks only a matter of time until they secure a place in the World Cup, as they have another home match against Saudi Arabia next week.

Captain Wataru Endo said qualification is just the start for a team that hope to make a splash at next summer’s competition.

“Everyone understands that the third round of Asian qualifiers is not easy but we are aiming higher and not one of us is satisfied at this point,” the Liverpool midfielder told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s because we have the targets that we do that this team has become what it is now.”

While Japan are sitting pretty with four matches to play but the five-way battle to qualify second from the group could go to the wire.

Australia have seven points, while Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and China all have six.

The Socceroos, who are without several players through injury, on Thursday host an Indonesia side in Sydney led for the first time by Barcelona and Dutch great Patrick Kluivert.

Indonesia have leaned heavily on the Netherlands as they look to reach the World Cup for the first time since the Asian nation gained independence from the Dutch in 1945.

With many of his players flying in from their clubs in Europe, Kluivert — handed the mission of taking Indonesia to the World Cup finals for the first time since 1938 — admitted that there had not been enough time to really impose his ideas on the squad but said he was confident they were ready to challenge for a first win over Australia since 1981.

“Changing is impossible at the moment,” he told reporters at Sydney Football Stadium on Wednesday. “But of course, there’s things I don’t just explain here, but there will be some, some things change, but that’s between us. I think the team is ready. They know what we expect tomorrow, so we look forward to playing the match.”

China are bottom of the six sides in the group and face Saudi Arabia in Riyadh. After the Saudi game, China host Australia on Tuesday in another crucial showdown.

Striker Zhang Yuning said China will be driven by a sense of revenge after a 2-1 home defeat to the Saudis earlier in qualifying.

“Everyone is looking forward to a very exciting match, especially because the home match was disappointing,” Zhang told reporters. “We will fight hard from the first minute because now we have the belief that we can win.”

SON AIMS TO FORGET SPURS WOES

Perennial qualifiers South Korea are on the verge of advancing from Group ‘B’, with Hong Myung-bo’s side needing to defeat Oman in Goyang on Thursday and then pick up another positive result against Jordan to book their spot.

The South Koreans have 14 points from their six qualifiers, three ahead of second-placed Iraq, with Jordan in third a further two points adrift.

Son Heung-min dismissed concerns about his form and fitness on Wednesday as he looks to forget his Tottenham Hotspur woes by firing South Korea to the World Cup.

Previously one of the first names on the Tottenham teamsheet, the 32-year-old forward has struggled in the Premier League this season, scoring seven times for Spurs, with the London club languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Speaking to reporters on the eve of their qualifier against Oman, South Korea’s captain admitted to some “difficult and challenging” moments with Tottenham. But he added: “My physical condition is perfectly fine.”

Asl in the group, Iraq, who are looking to qualify for the finals for the first time since 1986, host fifth-placed Kuwait in Basra while Palestine take on Jordan in Amman.

Iran can also close in on a place at the finals when they host the United Arab Emirates in Tehran in Group ‘A’.

Amir Ghalenoei’s team top the standings from Uzbekistan by three points while sitting a further three ahead of the UAE.

Uzbekistan, chasing their first-ever appearance at a World Cup, host Kyrgyzstan in Tashkent while fourth-placed Qatar entertain North Korea needing a win to maintain their chances of automatic qualification.

Even if Qatar, who won the Asian Cup on home soil 13 months ago, finish outside the top two, their World Cup hopes will not be over.

The teams that finish third and fourth in the three groups go through to a further round of qualifying.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025