Japan becomes first non-host team to qualify for 2026 soccer World Cup

Japan's national soccer team has defeated Bahrain in Asian qualifiers with 2-0 score, becoming the first non-host squad to clinch a slot at next year's World Cup.

It will be the Samurai Blue's eighth straight appearance in the tournament. Japan's seventh match of the final preliminary round played out in Saitama City, on Thursday. The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico.