Japan close to qualifying for 2026 World Cup

Japan could secure their spot in the 2026 World Cup this week. They need to beat Bahrain on Thursday in Saitama. If they win, they will be the first team from Asia to qualify. Japan is currently leading their group by nine points and has had a strong qualifying campaign. Coach Hajime Moriyasu has selected a strong squad, including Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma. The team has scored 22 goals while only conceding two in their six qualifying matches. In the same qualifying round, South Korea hopes to secure their World Cup place. They need to win their upcoming home games against Oman and Jordan. Captain Son Heung-min, despite struggling at Tottenham, remains a key player for the national team. In Group B, South Korea leads with 14 points, ahead of Iraq, who has 11 points. Jordan trails with nine. Iraq's next matches will be against Kuwait and Palestine, who are at the bottom of the group. Other groups are also in action. Iran leads Group A with 16 points, while Uzbekistan is close behind with 13. Qatar holds fourth place but can still qualify for the World Cup through further rounds.