Japan hammered a hapless Indonesia side 4-0 on Friday, extending their lead at the top of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and edging them closer to an eighth consecutive spot at football's premier spectacle.... more »
Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada said an eighth straight World Cup appearance will be within Japan's grasp if they beat Australia next week, after extending their perfect record in qualifying.... more »
New Socceroos coach Tony Popovic says there is nothing to fear from a testing World Cup qualifying clash in Japan next week, but admitted it was a big challenge.... more »
Premier League stars Kaoru Mitoma and Wataru Endo both scored as Japan thrashed China 7-0 on Thursday to start the third round of Asian World Cup qualifiers with a statement win.... more »
Japan has been declared the winner of its cancelled World Cup qualifying match against North Korea by forfeit, the sport's global governing body told the Japan Football Association on Saturday.... more »
Alireza Jahanbakhsh scored a 96th-minute penalty to give Iran a dramatic 2-1 win over Japan on Saturday and set up an Asian Cup semi-final against holders Qatar or Uzbekistan.... more »
Captain Wataru Endo warned that Japan's Asian Cup rivals will "exploit" their weaknesses after they wobbled before reaching the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Bahrain on Wednesday.... more »
If Japan, South Korea or Australia are to win the Asian Cup in Qatar they will have to do it the hard way in the face of hostile crowds roaring on their rivals from the Middle East.... more »
Japan's shock defeat to Iraq and South Korea's late draw with Jordan make it harder than ever to predict who will lift the Asian Cup as the group stage approaches its climax.... more »
Palestine conceded a goal after just 64 seconds in a 4-1 loss to Iran at the Asian Cup on Sunday, while tournament favourites Japan survived a scare before beating Vietnam 4-2.... more »
Two-goal Takumi Minamino admitted he was "surprised" by Vietnam after Asian Cup favourites Japan survived a scare in winning 4-2 to open their campaign in Qatar.... more »
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu demanded even more from his team after they thrashed Myanmar 5-0 on Thursday to get their bid to reach an eighth straight World Cup off to an emphatic start.... more »
Hansi Flick on Thursday left regulars Timo Werner and Leon Goretzka out of the Germany squad for September's friendlies, while Brighton's Pascal Gross received his first call-up.... more »
Takuma Nishimura came off the bench to secure a 1-1 draw for Japan against Uruguay in a friendly on Friday, equalising seconds after entering the action.... more »
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu will stay in his job after leading the Samurai Blue to the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar, the Japan Football Association said Wednesday.... more »
Japan will put their World Cup heartbreak behind them and focus on becoming Asian champions for a fifth time, captain Maya Yoshida said after the team returned home on Wednesday.... more »
The World Cup in Qatar has already delivered plenty of major shocks but as it moves into the knockout phase the top contenders including Brazil and France have plenty to prove.... more »
Spain staggered through to the World Cup last 16 on Thursday despite a 2-1 defeat by Japan, who remarkably won Group E on a rollercoaster night which saw four-time champions Germany eliminated.... more »
Luis Enrique said Spain will not count their chickens before they are hatched when they face Japan on Thursday, aiming to win and qualify for the World Cup knockout phase.... more »
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