On Thursday 20 March, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) played their seventh match in the final round of the FIFA World Cup 26™ Asian qualifiers at Saitama Stadium 2002, where they defeated the Bahrain National Team 2-0, thanks to the goals from KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace) and KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad). The victory took Japan's tally to 19 points and ensured at least a top-two finish in Group C, taking them to an eighth consecutive FIFA World Cup™ with three games remaining.

Japan went into the match with a record of five wins and one draw, which gave them a 10-point lead over the third-placed team and meant that a win would guarantee them at least second place in their group and automatic qualification for the World Cup.

For this match, head coach MORIYASU Hajime named SUZUKI Zion (Parma Calcio 1913) in goal, with a backline of ITAKURA Kou (Borussia MG), ITO Hiroki (Bayern Munich), and SEKO Ayumu (Grasshopper Club Zurich). MORITA Hidemasa (Sporting CP) and ENDO Wataru (Liverpool FC) anchored the midfield while MITOMA Kaoru (Brighton & Hove Albion FC) and DOAN Ritsu (SC Freiburg) were deployed on the flanks. UEDA Ayase (Feyenoord) started as the central striker while Kubo and MINAMINO Takumi (AS Monaco) played as attacking midfielders. .....

🔹試合終了🔹️

🏆FIFA #ワールドカップ 26アジア最終予選(3次予選)
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 2-0 バーレーン代表🇧🇭

⌚️19:35(🇯🇵)
📺テレビ朝日系列にて地上波独占生中継
📱DAZN
📱TVer(https://t.co/bLxGuWfslQ)
🔗https://t.co/D37mQLnHJl@FIFAWorldCup #FIFAWorldCup #AsianQualifiers#夢への勇気を… pic.twitter.com/wyNgcIEcXu

— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) March 20, 2025

＞＞READ MORE "JAPAN FA"