Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Features
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Weather
  • Info-data
  • Beautiful Cities
  • Discoveries
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

Japan Becomes First Team to Qualify For 2026 World Cup With 2-0 Win Over Bahrain

Babatunde Abdulraheem Lawal by Babatunde Abdulraheem Lawal
March 20, 2025
in Sports
0
Japan Becomes First Team to Qualify For 2026 World Cup With 2-0 Win Over Bahrain
0
SHARES
12
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Japan secured their spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo sealed a 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama on Thursday.

The Samurai Blue, dominant in their Asian Group C campaign, struggled to break through on a chilly night until Kamada struck in the 66th minute. Kubo added a second in the 87th minute, ensuring Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance in style.

Related posts

Nigeria: 21 Kano Athletes Die in Auto Crash Returning from Gateway Games

Nigeria: 21 Kano Athletes Die in Auto Crash Returning from Gateway Games

May 31, 2025
Egypt’s Omar Marmoush Wins 2024/2025 Premier League Goal of the Season

Egypt’s Omar Marmoush Wins 2024/2025 Premier League Goal of the Season

May 31, 2025

Japan would have qualified even with a draw, thanks to Australia’s 5-1 victory over Indonesia earlier in the day. However, Kamada ensured they emphatically booked their ticket, scoring just three minutes after coming on as a substitute. The Crystal Palace forward latched onto Kubo’s clever reverse pass before coolly slotting past Bahrain goalkeeper Ebrahim Lutfalla.

Real Sociedad’s Kubo then put the result beyond doubt with a clinical left-footed finish from a tight angle, sending the 60,000-strong crowd into celebration.

Japan entered the match in unstoppable form, having won five and drawn one of their previous qualifiers. They started with an experienced lineup featuring Premier League stars Wataru Endo (Liverpool) and Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton).

Captain Endo thought he had opened the scoring in the ninth minute, but VAR ruled out his effort. Japan continued to push, but Bahrain posed a threat on the counter, with Komail Al Aswad missing a good chance just after the half-hour mark.

Mitoma also squandered an opportunity in first-half injury time, blazing a shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu made key changes midway through the second half, bringing on Kamada and Junya Ito for Takumi Minamino and Ritsu Doan. The move paid off instantly, with Kamada breaking the deadlock.

Kubo nearly added another with a curling effort that Lutfalla managed to save, but he eventually got on the scoresheet in the closing minutes to wrap up Japan’s win and confirm their place in next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

As the final whistle blew, Japan’s players sprinted onto the pitch to celebrate with their home fans, marking yet another successful World Cup qualification campaign.

Tags: 2026 FIFA World CupBahrainJapan
Previous Post

M23 Fighters Seize Key DR Congo Town Despite Ceasefire Bid

Next Post

Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Elected First African and Female IOC President

Next Post
Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Elected First African and Female IOC President

Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry Elected First African and Female IOC President

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Nigeria: Lagos State Debunks Claims of Sachet Water Ban

Nigeria: Lagos State Debunks Claims of Sachet Water Ban

6 months ago
Governor Obaseki Dedicates Edo State Arena to Afrobeats Star Rema

Governor Obaseki Dedicates Edo State Arena to Afrobeats Star Rema

9 months ago
Nigeria: Kano High Court Orders Immediate Eviction of Ado Bayero from Nasarawa Palace

Nigeria: Kano High Court Orders Immediate Eviction of Ado Bayero from Nasarawa Palace

1 year ago
South-West Nigerian Governors Unite to Form Joint Security Team Amid Rising Insecurity

South-West Nigerian Governors Unite to Form Joint Security Team Amid Rising Insecurity

4 months ago

BROWSE BY CATEGORIES

  • Beautiful Cities
  • Business
  • Culture
  • Discoveries
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Info-Data
  • Lifestyle
  • National
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Weather

POPULAR NEWS

  • BREAKING: Shawwal 1446 AH Crescent Sighted in Nigeria, Sunday is Eid-el-Fitr

    BREAKING: Shawwal 1446 AH Crescent Sighted in Nigeria, Sunday is Eid-el-Fitr

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nigeria: (VIDEO) Protesters Storm Lagos Assembly with Banners Reading ‘We Don’t Have a Place to Live’

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nigeria: (VIDEO) Popular ‘The New Masquerade Actress’ Ovularia Dies at 81

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nigeria Nominates Olufemi Elias as Candidate For World Court

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • BREAKING: (VIDEO) INEC Declares APC’s Okpebholo Winner of Edo Governorship Election

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers

© 2023 AAN TV - All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Features
  • News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Weather
  • Info-data
  • Beautiful Cities
  • Discoveries

© 2023 AAN TV - All rights reserved.