Japan will look to maintain their unbeaten record in 2026 World Cup qualifying when they welcome Saudi Arabia to Saitama on Tuesday.
The Samurai Blue secured qualification with Thursday’s win over Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia are currently sitting in third place in Group C.
Match preview
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Japan became the first team to secure their spot at next summer’s tournament after they recorded a 2-0 victory in Thursday’s home meeting with Bahrain, courtesy of goals from Daichi Kamada and Take Kubo.
The Samurai Blue have now avoided defeat in all 13 of their qualifying matches, including six wins in seven games in the third stage of World Cup qualification (D1).
While they are guaranteed to compete at an eighth consecutive World Cup finals, Japan will still be keen to maintain their unbeaten record in their final three matches against Saudi Arabia, Australia and Indonesia.
Japan will be looking for another strong offensive display, having scored 24 goals across their seven matches in Group C – 10 more than any other team in the second round of qualifying.
Hajime Moriyasu‘s side also boast a resolute backline, demonstrated by the fact they have kept 11 clean sheets across their 13 qualifiers.
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In contrast to their hosts, Saudi Arabia have work to do if they are to reach a third consecutive World Cup finals.
They have won just two of their seven matches in the second round of qualifying (D3, L2), with both of those victories taking place against China, including Thursday’s narrow 1-0 home win thanks to Salem Al-Dawsari‘s second-half effort.
Saudi Arabia are sitting one point adrift of an automatic qualification spot and three points clear of the bottom two, with their current position putting them on course to move into an additional round of action.
The Green Falcons will have to improve in the final third if they are to snatch second position, having failed to score in four of their previous five qualifying matches.
They have at least proven tough to beat on their travels in the current qualifying cycle, with their six away games producing three wins, two draws and one defeat.
Team News
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Japan are unable to call upon midfielder Hidemasa Morita and forward Ayase Ueda after the pair withdrew from the squad due to injury.
Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka and Holstein Kiel’s Shuto Machino appear to be in line to replace Morita and Ueda respectively.
Crystal Palace’s Kamada is also pushing for a starting spot after scoring in Thursday’s substitute appearance, while Junya Ito is another name who could be given the chance to feature from the first whistle.
As for the visitors, Herve Renard is expected to be without the services of Roma defender Saud Abdulhamid, who picked up a muscle injury in the win over China.
Like Abdulhamid, Al-Ittihad centre-back Hassan Kadesh was forced off on Thursday, making him an injury concern for Tuesday’s fixture.
Ali Lajami is set to come in for Kadesh in the middle of a back four, while Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti is set to replace Abdulhamid at right-back.
Japan possible starting lineup:
Suzuki; Seko, Itakura, H. Ito; J. Ito, Endo, Tanaka, Mitoma; Kubo, Kamada; Machino
Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:
Al-Aqidi; Al-Shanqeeti, Tambakti, Lajami, Boushal; Al-Juwayr, Al-Ghamdi, Yahya, N. Al-Dawsari, S. Al-Dawsari; Al-Buraikan
We say: Japan 2-1 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia will be desperate to pick up a positive result to boost their World Cup qualification hopes, but we think they will find it difficult to take anything from Tuesday’s fixture, considering Japan have won 12 of their 13 matches in the current qualifying cycle.
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