Japan's national team took a giant step towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3-1 away victory over China in Asian qualifying. The win on Tuesday, reported by WION, was built on first-half headers from Koki Ogawa and Ko Itakura, putting the Samurai Blue firmly in control of Group C.
Ogawa opened the scoring in the 39th minute, powering a header home directly from a corner. Just before halftime, Itakura nodded in a second from another Junya Ito delivery. China pulled a goal back through Lin Liangming early in the second half, but Ogawa extinguished any comeback hopes six minutes later with his second header of the night.
How did Japan handle the hostile atmosphere?
The match was played in a charged atmosphere, with the Japanese national anthem met by loud booing from sections of the 45,000-strong crowd in Xiamen. The game was also briefly halted in the first half due to a pitch invader. Despite this, Japan's focus never wavered. "We knew the opening goal was going to be key," said Ogawa, who plays for NEC Nijmegen in the Netherlands. "It was tough at times."
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu praised the collective effort. "All the players got us this win today," he stated. "The players on the pitch, the players on the bench and those that weren't on the bench today -- it was down to their energy that we won." The victory extends Japan's lead at the top of the standings to 16 points from five wins and a draw.
What is the state of the race for second place?
While Japan surges ahead, the battle for the second automatic qualification spot in Group C is wide open. In a major upset on the same day, Indonesia stunned Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jakarta. That result left Australia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and China all tied on six points, with Bahrain just behind on five. The top two teams from each of the three Asian groups will advance to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Japan had rotated their squad for this match, with stars like Kaoru Mitoma and Daichi Kamada starting on the bench after the 4-0 win over Indonesia days earlier. The depth proved effective. China, who lost 7-0 to Japan in their first group meeting, showed improvement but ultimately lacked the quality to match their rivals.
What's next for Japan's qualification campaign?
Japan's next qualifiers are in March, with home fixtures against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. World Cup qualification is now within touching distance. Itakura acknowledged the positive momentum, saying, "These last two games were difficult as we expected, but it was really positive to get two wins."
Fans can track the team's preparations and player profiles on our squad page. The remaining fixture dates and times are available on our fixtures schedule. With two home games next, Japan will aim to mathematically secure their place at an eighth consecutive World Cup finals.
