Japan moved one step closer to qualifying for their eighth consecutive World Cup after securing a 3-1 victory over China on Tuesday. The win puts Japan in a strong position in their World Cup qualifying campaign as they extended their unbeaten run in Group C of the Asian qualifiers.
The match, held in Xiamen, saw Japan take a commanding 2-0 lead by halftime. Koki Ogawa opened the scoring in the 39th minute, heading in a corner from Junya Ito. Japan doubled their advantage just before the break with another header, this time from Ko Itakura. Ito’s delivery was flicked on by Koki Machida, leaving Itakura unmarked at the back post to nod the ball past China’s goalkeeper Wang Dalei.
China responded with a goal early in the second half. Lin Liangming capitalized on a clever pass from Xie Wenneng, slotting the ball past Japan’s goalkeeper Zion Suzuki to reduce the deficit. However, Japan quickly restored their two-goal lead when Ogawa netted his second goal of the match, again connecting with an Ito cross in the 57th minute.
The victory marked Japan’s fifth win and a draw in Group C, bringing them close to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the tournament. Japan’s next fixtures will be at home against Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in March 2025.
China, on the other hand, had shown improvement since their heavy 7-0 loss to Japan in the opening game of the qualifiers. Despite their valiant effort, they remain on six points from six games and are still in contention for a spot at their first World Cup since 2002.
The match, which marked Japan’s first senior international in China in nine years, was played in a tense atmosphere, with heavy security outside the stadium and around 750 Japanese supporters in attendance. The game was briefly halted in the first half due to a pitch invasion by a fan, and the Japanese national anthem was greeted with loud booing by the home crowd.
Japan’s well-organized performance and clinical finishing, particularly from Ogawa, left them on the brink of World Cup qualification, as they continue their dominant run in the qualifiers.
