World Cup 2026 Asian qualifiers: Japan march on, Indonesia suffer 99th-minute heartbreak
Midfielder Daichi Kamada says his team can all but book their place in the finals for the eight straight time by beating Australia on Tuesday
Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada said an eighth straight World Cup appearance will be within Japan’s grasp if they beat Australia next week, after extending their perfect record in qualifying.
Japan beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jeddah on Thursday to make it three wins out of three in the decisive third round of Asian qualifying.
Japan have pulled five points clear at the top of Group C, ahead of a chasing pack led by the Australians, who moved ahead of Saudi Arabia on goal difference after a 3-1 win in Adelaide over China in Tony Popovic’s first game since replacing Graham Arnold as coach last month.
The top two teams secure direct passage to the 2026 World Cup and the third- and fourth-placed countries facing another qualifying phase. The bottom two teams are eliminated.
Japan face second-place Australia in Saitama on Tuesday and Kamada said they can all but book their place at the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico with a win.
“We’re playing our next game at home in front of lots of fans, and we have to win,” he was quoted as saying by Japanese media.
“If we win the next game, the World Cup will start to feel very close for us, so we want to work hard.”
