Osaka/Seoul: Asian football powerhouses Japan and South Korea concluded their 2026 FIFA World Cup second-round qualifying campaigns with dominant home wins on Tuesday, solidifying their positions among Asia’s top teams.
In Osaka, Japan thrashed Indonesia 6-0, showcasing clinical finishing and tactical superiority. Daichi Kamada opened the scoring in the 15th minute, followed quickly by a goal from Takefusa Kubo. Kamada netted his second just before halftime. The scoring spree continued in the second half, with Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino, and Mao Hosoya each adding a goal to cap off Japan’s statement win.
This victory ensured Japan finished atop their group, continuing their streak toward an eighth consecutive World Cup appearance. They are among the top two finishers from their six-team group advancing directly to the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, in Seoul, South Korea cruised past Kuwait 4-0 to claim top spot in Group B, marking their 11th consecutive qualification for the global showpiece. Jeon Jin-woo opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, followed by second-half goals from Lee Kang-in, Oh Hyeon-gyu, and Lee Jae-sung.
Other nations that have now officially secured qualification from the third round of Asia’s qualifiers include Iran, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
One final automatic qualification spot remains in Group C, and it could go to Australia, provided they avoid a five-goal defeat against Saudi Arabia later Tuesday.
Additionally, the third and fourth-placed teams from each group will enter another qualification stage to compete for Asia’s remaining two automatic spots in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
In a fixture between already eliminated sides, China edged Bahrain 1-0, ending their campaign on a slightly positive note.