Japan will entertain Bahrain at Saitama Stadium in the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 (AFC) qualifiers on Thursday. The hosts have enjoyed an unbeaten run in the third round thus far and are at the top of the Group C standings. The Reds have won just one of their six games.
Samurai Blue extended their winning streak in the qualifiers to two games with a 3-1 away win over China in November. Koki Ogawa bagged a brace while Ko Itakura scored in the first half. It was their fifth win of the campaign and they have all but ensured their direct qualification into the main event next year.
The visitors are winless in the third round since a win over Australia in the campaign opener in September. They hosted