FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: China’s aspirations for FIFA 2026 remain intact despite a 3-1 defeat at home to a dominant Japan in Group C of the Asian qualifiers. The loss highlighted Japan’s strength, as they move closer to securing their eighth consecutive World Cup berth. They sit comfortably atop the group with a perfect record, nine points ahead of second-placed Australia.
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For China, the race is far from over. The group standings are remarkably tight beyond Japan, with just one point separating second-place Australia and bottom-placed China. This leaves ample opportunity for the Chinese side to turn their campaign around in the remaining fixtures. Elsewhere in Group C, Indonesia delivered a stunning upset, defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0.
The Saudis’ hopes for qualification took a serious hit as they now struggle to keep pace with their group rivals. Meanwhile, Australia stumbled with a 2-2 draw against Bahrain, missing a crucial chance to solidify their hold on second place. The road to the World Cup remains unpredictable with every result reshaping the group dynamics.
China’s remaining games are now must-win scenarios, as they aim to capitalise on the slender margins separating the teams and reignite their dreams of reaching the global stage. Japan continued their dominance in Group C with a 3-1 win over China in Xiamen, edging closer to securing their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
FIFA 2026 Tickets: Japan Dominates China in World Cup Qualifiers
Despite having thrashed China 7-0 earlier in the campaign, Japan faced more resistance this time. Koki Ogawa opened the scoring with a header in the 39th minute, and Ko Itakura doubled the lead before half-time. China sparked hope among their fans early in the second half when Lin Liangming found the net, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.
However, Ogawa sealed Japan’s victory with his second header soon after, maintaining the Samurai Blue’s unbeaten streak. With 16 points from six matches, Japan sits firmly atop Group C, nine points clear of second-placed Australia, with four remaining. China, despite two wins earlier in the FIFA 2026 qualifiers, remain bottom of the tightly contested group due to goal difference.
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Australia salvaged a 2-2 draw against Bahrain thanks to a 96th-minute equalizer from Kusini Yengi, bringing their tally to seven points. They lead a tightly packed mid-table where three teams, including China, are all tied on six points. With only one point separating second place from the bottom, the race for qualification remains wide open.
World Cup Tickets: Japan Defeats China 3-1 in FIFA Qualifiers
China fell 3-1 to Japan in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Tuesday, conceding three headers in a hard-fought match in Xiamen. The loss underscores Japan’s dominance in Group C, having previously trounced China 7-0 in their first-leg encounter in September. The match began with China showcasing a strong defensive organization, frustrating the Japanese attack for much of the first half.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Koki Ogawa rose to meet a corner, heading the ball past China’s goalkeeper. Japan extended their lead just before the break during stoppage time. Another corner kick led to a headed pass across the goal, with Ko Itakura nodding the ball in from the far post.
China responded quickly in the second half. In the 48th minute, Lin Liangming capitalized on a direct pass from Wei Shihao, firing a shot from the centre of the box to pull one back for the hosts, igniting hope among the home fans. However, those hopes were short-lived as Ogawa struck again shortly after, scoring his second header of the night to seal the win for Japan.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets: A Strong Challenge from the Chinese Side
Despite the defeat, China remains in the mix in the closely contested Group C standings, with a narrow gap separating the teams below Japan. However, the Japanese squad quieted the home supporters just six minutes later when Junya Ito broke through on the right flank. And delivered a cross for Ogawa to net his second header of the game.
Japanese players celebrated their second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifier match against China in Xiamen, Southeast China’s Fujian province, on November 19, 2024. In the 70th minute, Wei Shihao came close to scoring for China, but his attempt was deflected by Japanese goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Despite the setback, Chinese head coach Branko Ivankovic expressed satisfaction with the determination and resilience his players displayed on the field. I am pleased with my players. Facing a formidable Japanese side, they gave their all on the field and showed courage in pressing high up the pitch, Ivankovic remarked.
Football World Cup Tickets: China’s Set-Piece Lapses Costly in 3-1 Loss to Japan
We had practised defending set pieces beforehand, but a momentary lapse in concentration altered the outcome. We will work on improving our set-piece defence moving forward and help our players maintain better focus during games, he added. Japan’s coach, Hajime Moriyasu, praised the capabilities and promise of the Chinese team.
It’s a different team compared to our first-leg match. The Chinese coach is doing a very good job of helping his players to perform, he said. It was a challenging match right from the start. We were on the back foot for a significant portion of the game, but we capitalized on two set pieces to score. The first goal from the corner was the turning point, noted Japan’s head coach.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Indonesia secured their first victory in the group with a 2-0 home win against Saudi Arabia. Japan now sits atop the group standings with 16 points from five wins and one draw, while Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and China each have six points. Given our performance today, I believe we can approach the upcoming matches with confidence, said Ivankovic. His team is set to face Saudi Arabia and Australia in March 2025.
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