Football beyond mainstream
Japan secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bahrain in Saitama on Thursday, extending their remarkable streak of consecutive World Cup appearances to eight. The win also confirmed Japan’s dominance in Asian Group C, as they became the first team to book their ticket to the expanded…
The final eight teams will compete on Saturday and Sunday, with the champions to be crowned on March 2. The first quarter-final on Saturday will see Saudi Arabia take on China PR. Saudi Arabia, who topped Group B, are looking to add a fourth title to their collection, having last won in 2018. Meanwhile, China…
