Bahrain will welcome Japan to Bahrain National Stadium in the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. Both teams began their campaigns with a win last week and will look to sign off for the international break on a positive note.
The hosts met Australia in their campaign opener and registered a 1-0 win. It was a close game and Harry Souttar's own goal in the 89th minute helped the Reds record their first win in history against Australia while also keeping their first clean sheet in this fixture.
The Samurai Blue hosted China in their campaign opener last week and recorded a commanding 7-0 win. Takumi Minamino bagged a brace while substitute Junya Ito scored once and picked up two assists.
The Reds have a good home record in the World Cup qualifiers, suffering just one loss in their last nine games while recording six wins, and will look to build on that form. Interestingly, their two wins against the Samurai Blue have both been registered at home.
The visitors have an impressive record in the World Cup qualifiers and have registered six consecutive away wins while keeping clean sheets. They have won their last three meetings against the hosts, including a 3-1 triumph in the Asian Cup earlier this year, and are strong favorites.
Japan Prepared for a Tough Battle
Despite a stunning victory on the road last week, lightning is unlikely to strike twice for Bahrain here, as Japan's might may well be too much for them to handle. Hajime Moriyasu, the Japan boss, has sounded a note of caution as his team prepares to face the conquerors of the Socceroos. Though Japan will be in confident mood after a 7-0 demolition of China, Moriyasu is taking nothing for granted. He believes that the result against Australia has taught them valuable lessons about the difficulty of the Asian qualifiers. He has emphasized the need to prepare at their best for the remaining matches and not to feel relaxed. He is aware that Bahrain will have momentum from their win and is a home game for them, so he has stressed the importance of flexibility and maximizing the ability of individual players on the pitch.
Bahrain Ready to Give Their Maximum
Meanwhile, Dragan Talajic, the Bahrain head coach, is confident that his players are ready to give their maximum and go all out for the win, especially with the match taking place on Bahrain soil. He acknowledges that Japan is one of the favorites in the group, but he believes that his players are mentally strong and have something to say. He also believes that the win against Australia has given his team a major boost in confidence.
Key Players to Watch
Junya Ito
Junya Ito, who came on as a substitute for Japan against China, scored once and picked up two assists. He could be a key player for Japan in this match.
Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo, the Japan captain and Liverpool midfielder, will be a key player for Japan.
Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino, who scored a brace against China, could be a key player for Japan in this match.
Harry Souttar
Harry Souttar, who scored the own goal that gave Bahrain their win against Australia, will be a key player for Bahrain in this match.
A Battle of Styles
Japan is a more technically skilled team, while Bahrain is a more physical team. It will be interesting to see how these two styles clash.
Conclusion: Japan’s Might Expected to Prove Too Much
A 7-0 win over China on matchday one for Japan has set the standard in this group, and Moriyasu's men are resounding favourites to make it two from two. While Bahrain can feel confident after their shocking victory against Australia, Japan’s quality and form are too strong to be ignored.
Looking Ahead
This is an important match for both teams as they look to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is just the start of a long journey, and both teams will be looking to make a strong start. The result of this match could have a major impact on the standings in Group C.
