In Group C, the 3rd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, Japan is leading with 16 points. They are 9 points ahead of second-placed Australia, with just 4 games ahead.
With this result, the Japanese team only needs 1 victory against Bahrain to secure 1 of the top 2 positions in the group, thereby winning a ticket to the 2026 World Cup early.
According to Sportsmole, Japan has maintained an incredible streak of form since being eliminated by Croatia on penalties at the 2022 World Cup. Hajime Moriyasu's side have won 22 of their 27 international games since then.
Kaoru Mitoma and his teammates could become the first national team (excluding the home teams) to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, if they beat Bahrain. Even if they draw, Japan can still qualify, depending on the results of the remaining matches.
However, Moriyasu knows that the match against Bahrain is not an easy victory, as the away team is fighting for a chance to enter the top 4 of the group.
Bahrain is also in good form ahead of the match on March 20, with four wins and one loss in the last five starts, including lifting the Gulf Cup trophy after beating Oman 2-1 in the final.
In Group C, Bahrain is in 5th place with 6 points. They have a very poor head-to-head record against Japan, having lost all four of their most recent meetings, including a 5-0 defeat in the first leg in September 2024.
In preparation for this match, the Japanese team has called up a strong squad, with many players playing in Europe, notably Kaoru Mitoma and Takefusa Kubo.
Ayase Ueda has also been brought back to the squad after a period of absence, while Hiroki Ito has returned to the team after a long absence due to injury.
On the Bahrain team's side, they plan to field the strongest squad, similar to the recent victory in the Gulf Cup. Striker Mohamed Marhoon will lead the away team, after shining in the regional tournament.
In defense, Waleed Al-Hayam and Amine Benadi are both expected to start in central defence, while Abdulla Al-Khalasi and Hamad Al-Shamsan are expected to start at full-back.
The Japan vs Bahrain match will take place at 5:35 p.m. on March 20.
Score prediction: Japan 6-0 Bahrain.
