Japan has become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after beating Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium.

Japan beat Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama on Thursday to become the first team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and extend their run of successive appearances at the finals to eight. The 2026 tournament will be staged in the United States,

Several other teams are still competing for World Cup qualification. Argentina needs victories over Uruguay and Brazil and favorable results elsewhere. In Oceania and Asia, other teams are battling for the remaining qualifying spots.

There was outcry in the English media. In its bid to end its decades-long wait for a trophy, England’s national team had turned to a German.

Tuchel is currently leading his first England camp and will manage his first game against Albania at Wembley on Friday night.

Over five months on from Thomas Tuchel's appointment as England's new manager, the German will finally take charge of the team for the first time in Friday's World Cup qualifier against Albania at Wembley.