Japan has become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after a solid 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama on Thursday.

Substitute Daichi Kamada scored the first goal in the 66th minute, followed by Takefusa Kubo’s second goal in the 87th minute.

With this win, Japan extends its streak of World Cup appearances to eight consecutive tournaments.

The upcoming edition will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada and will feature 48 teams for the first time.