World Cup 2026: Japan set sights on Saudi Arabia as top teams clash, Australia host China
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan arrive in the Gulf state having scored 12 times in thrashing China and Bahrain; Socceroos’ new coach makes his debut
Japan face second-placed Saudi Arabia in Group C of Asia’s third round of World Cup preliminaries in Jeddah on Thursday, looking to continue their prolific start as top-of-the-table clashes take centre stage across the continent.
Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan arrive in the Gulf state having handed out thrashings to China and Bahrain, scoring 12 times in the previous window to sound a warning to the sides chasing one of two automatic World Cup berths available from Group C.
Australia, under new coach Tony Popovic, entertain China in Adelaide while Bahrain host Indonesia but all are in the shadow of a dominant Japan team that are already favourites to secure qualification for an eighth consecutive World Cup.
The top two finishers in each of Asia’s three groups in this phase of the preliminaries secure direct passage to the finals while the third- and fourth-placed nations progress to a further round.
Teams in the fifth and six spots are eliminated.
Moriyasu’s Japan squad is largely unchanged for the meeting with the Saudis, who will be without Mohammed Kanno after the midfielder was sent off in their last-gasp 2-1 win over China in Dalian last month.
