As the excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Japan is set to welcome China to Saitama for a pivotal match in the third stage of Asian World Cup qualifying. Under the guidance of coach Hajime Moriyasu, the Japanese team is eyeing their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, a testament to their consistent performance on the international stage.
The competition in Group C is fierce, featuring strong contenders like Australia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Indonesia. With Asia's automatic allocation for the World Cup expanding from four to eight spots, the stakes have never been higher. The tournament, hosted across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, will see 48 teams vying for glory.
Adding to Japan's optimism are the returns of key players Junya Ito and Kaoru Mitoma. Ito makes his comeback following the dismissal of sexual assault allegations, with the Japanese Football Association affirming that his recall is unrelated to the case. Meanwhile, Mitoma is eager to rebound after a back injury sidelined him during the latter part of last season with Brighton in the Premier League.
Coach Moriyasu expressed his enthusiasm for having both players back in the squad, highlighting their potential as significant attacking threats. \"I can definitely say that both of them are great weapons for our team. I want them to maximize their weapons in their time in the game. I hope that they will be involved in scoring,\" Moriyasu stated.
With the team strengthening its lineup and the qualifiers intensifying, Japan is poised to make a strong push towards securing their spot in the upcoming World Cup.
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Japan prepare to host China in FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier
cgtn.com
