Japan Hosts Saudi Arabia in Crucial World Cup Qualifying Clash

Saitama, Japan — Japan will aim to uphold their unbeaten streak in World Cup qualifying when they face Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at Saitama Stadium. The match, part of the Asian qualification rounds for the 2026 World Cup, is pivotal for both teams as they vie for a spot in the prestigious tournament.

The Samurai Blue secured their place in next year’s World Cup finals with a convincing 2-0 win over Bahrain last Thursday. Japan remains unbeaten in all 13 qualifying matches to date, winning six of their seven games in the third stage, and has scored a remarkable 24 goals—10 more than any other team in the second round of qualifying. “We’re focused on maintaining our momentum,” said Japan's coach, whose team has also recorded 11 clean sheets during this campaign.

Saudi Arabia, however, faces a challenging road ahead. Currently sitting third in Group C, the Green Falcons are in desperate need of points to secure their qualification for a third consecutive World Cup appearance. They have managed only two wins from their seven qualifying matches, including a narrow 1-0 victory against China in their last game. “It’s crucial for us to improve our offense if we want to compete with the top teams in this group,” stated the Saudi coach.

Japan’s squad will be missing key players due to injuries, including midfielder Morita and forward Ueda. This opens the door for Leeds United’s player and Holstein Kiel’s player to step in. Additionally, Crystal Palace’s Kamada, who made an impact off the bench last match, is pushing for a starting role.

On the other side, Saudi Arabia might be without defender Romarinho, who picked up an injury last match. His absence may require adjustments in the defensive lineup, forcing the Saudi coach to make tactical changes.

The expected starting lineup for Japan includes Suzuki; Seko, Itakura, H. Ito; J. Ito, Endo, Tanaka, Mitoma; Kubo, Kamada; Machino. In contrast, Saudi Arabia’s probable starting XI features Al-Aqidi; Al-Shanqeeti, Tambakti, Lajami, Boushal; Al-Juwayr, Al-Ghamdi, Yahya, N. Al-Dawsari, S. Al-Dawsari; Al-Buraikan.

Statistically, Japan holds a dominant position with an impressive 88.2% chance of victory, while Saudi Arabia’s chances sit at just 2.0%. This looming match is expected to test the resilience of both teams as the World Cup approaches.