Japan Defeats Saudi Arabia in World Cup Qualifier

Japan's national soccer team, led by manager Hajime Moriyasu, secured a top spot in Group C with a perfect record after defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in Jeddah during their World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign. This victory places them five points ahead of Australia, the nearest competitor in the group. Japan's midfielder Daichi Kamada emphasized the importance of their next match against Australia, seeing it as a crucial step toward securing their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance. The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the finals, while the third and fourth will face additional qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is focusing on enhancing its tourism sector, aiming to attract more high-spending visitors from India and China, projecting an increase in tourism's GDP contribution to 10% by 2030. The Kingdom is also expanding its e-visa program and accelerating construction projects to accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists.