PUNCH
Japan became the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after second-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo gave them a 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday.
The runaway Asian Group C leaders failed to sparkle on a chilly night in Saitama until Crystal Palace forward Kamada pounced for the opener in the 66th minute.
Kubo added another in the 87th minute as Japan punched their ticket to next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It will be their eighth straight World Cup appearance.
Australia’s 5-1 home win over Indonesia earlier in the evening meant Japan would have clinched their place even with a draw.
But Kamada made sure they did it in style in front of an expectant crowd of just under 60,000.
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