Japan display talent and ambition to scale new heights at World Cup

Hajime Moriyasu's side became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2026 competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico when they beat Bahrain 2-0 last week in Saitama. With their place sealed, they followed that up with a 0-0 home draw with Saudi Arabia, giving them 20 points from eight games with 24 goals scored and two conceded in the third round of qualifiers. Japan are 15th in the FIFA rankings and Moriyasu and his players firmly believe they can become the first Asian team to lift the World Cup next summer.