13 Teams Secure World Cup Spots; Japan Coach Aims for Group Top

With World Cup qualifiers progressing, 13 teams have booked their tickets to the finals. Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu stated that the team's goal is to finish top of their group.

As the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico continue, 13 of the 32 finalist spots have been secured. The three host nations—USA, Canada, and Mexico—automatically qualified, while ten other teams earned their places through continental qualifiers. From Asia, Japan, South Korea, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Australia have advanced, with Japan particularly impressive. Japan dominated the Asian qualifiers, going unbeaten with seven wins and one draw to seal their spot three rounds early. Coach Hajime Moriyasu stated in a recent interview that the team's ambition is not just to qualify but to top their group in the finals. He emphasized that Japanese football has reached a level where competing with the world's best is realistic, and aiming for first place is a natural goal. In Europe, traditional powerhouses like Germany, France, England, Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands have all qualified, while Italy and Portugal still face playoffs. South America saw Brazil and Argentina through, with Uruguay and Ecuador close behind. Africa has Morocco, Senegal, and Nigeria among the qualifiers. Notably, the World Cup will expand to 48 teams in 2026, but the finals still feature 32 teams, making the competition even fiercer. Asia has 8.5 slots, with five already taken. Remaining spots will be contested by Qatar, UAE, Iraq, and others. Japan's progress has been remarkable, having defeated Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup before exiting in the round of 16. Moriyasu believes the team has gained valuable experience and is ready to go further this time. He highlighted improvements in both defense and attack, especially the emergence of young talents. As more teams secure their places, the draw for the group stage approaches. Topping their group could help Japan avoid some strong opponents in the knockout rounds, paving the way for a deeper run. Moriyasu stressed that the team will take every match seriously and not underestimate any opponent. Currently, 19 spots remain undecided, with intercontinental playoffs scheduled for later this year. China's men's team, though eliminated from direct qualification, still has a slim chance via playoffs, but the situation is extremely difficult.

13 Teams Secure World Cup Spots; Japan Coach Aims for Group Top

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