Japan vs China

Saitama Stadium is the venue as Japan and China go head-to-head in their opening 2026 World Cup qualification Group C encounter.

Japan steamrolled into the third qualification stage for the 2026 World Cup, finishing top of Group B in round two with all six victories and an outstanding +24 goal difference. Hajime Moriyasu’s side didn’t concede a single goal in the previous qualification phase against Myanmar, North Korea, and Syria. Heavily fancied to maintain their four-match winning streak in the build-up to this clash, the hosts head into proceedings on the back of two consecutive 5-0 victories. While another clean sheet looks inevitable after Japan kept China at bay in their last three H2Hs, another win isn’t a foregone conclusion, considering the most recent meeting between these two nations ended 0-0. However, the Japanese have won both World Cup qualifiers against China in the 21st century via an aggregate score of 3-0.

On the other hand, China stuttered in the previous qualification stage, finishing runners-up to South Korea in Group C, courtesy of a superior goal difference to third-placed Thailand (W2, D2, L2). The visitors have won just one of their last five qualifying matches (D2, L2), scoring more than one goal twice, although each time against minnows Singapore. China’s poor traveling form is a reason for concern, with Branko Ivanovic’s side going winless on their last four road trips (D2, L2), three of which saw them fail to get on the scoresheet. Ivanovic must address China’s scoring woes to increase their chances of securing World Cup qualification for the first time since their only previous tournament appearance in 2002.