The draw for the final Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held in Kuala Lumpur on the 27th, and Japan, ranked 17th in the world and aiming to participate in their eighth consecutive tournament, was placed in Group C with Australia (23rd), Saudi Arabia (56th), Bahrain (81st), China (88th), and Indonesia (134th).

Coach Moriyasu Hajime commented, “My first impression is that we’ve been placed in a tough group, as expected. We want to approach the match with determination and courage.”

Japan will host China at their home stadium, Saitama Stadium, in their first match on September 5th. They will play 10 matches until their home match against Indonesia on June 10th next year. Group A includes Iran, Qatar, North Korea, etc., while Group B includes South Korea, Iraq, Palestine, etc.