Japan chases World Cup goal

Japan has never gone beyond the last 16 at a World Cup, but it has set itself the ambitious target of winning next year's tournament after dominating in Asian qualifying.

Hajime Moriyasu's side became the first team to punch its ticket to the 2026 competition in the United States, Canada and Mexico when it beat Bahrain 2-0 on March 20 in Saitama.

With its place sealed, it followed that up with a 0-0 home draw with Saudi Arabia last week, giving it 20 points from eight games with 24 goals scored and two conceded in the third phase of Asian qualifiers. Japan is ranked 15th in the FIFA rankings, and Moriyasu and his players firmly believe they can become the first Asian team to lift the World Cup next summer.