The Japanese national football team, known as the Samurai Blue, has been dominating the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, racking up eight consecutive wins with an impressive 36 goals scored and none conceded. Their recent 7-0 and 5-0 victories over China and Bahrain, respectively, have set the tone for their campaign.
However, Japan’s next two matches against Saudi Arabia and Australia could prove to be the most challenging yet. The team’s trip to Jeddah to face Saudi Arabia will be a significant test, as the Green Falcons boast considerable talent and have shown they can match it with top teams, including their historic 2-1 defeat of Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.
Saudi Arabia’s recent draw against Indonesia and subsequent 2-1 victory over China demonstrate their resilience and ability to come from behind. Japan will need to be at the top of their game to secure a win, especially if King Abdullah Sports City is filled to its 62,345 capacity.
The Samurai Blue will then face Australia at Saitama Stadium, where they will be favorites to win. However, recent form suggests that Australia is struggling, with defeats to Bahrain and a stalemate with Indonesia leading to the departure of coach Graham Arnold. New coach Tony Popovic will be looking to mastermind an upset, and Japan will need to be cautious not to underestimate their opponents.
The next seven days will be crucial for Japan’s World Cup campaign. If they can secure six points from these two matches, they will be well on their way to an eighth successive World Cup appearance. However, failure to win either tie could see them dragged back into a tight battle for a top-two finish in Group C.
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