Japan Defeats China 3-1 in World Cup Qualifier

Japan secured a crucial 3-1 victory over China in their World Cup qualifying match, putting them on the verge of an eighth consecutive World Cup appearance. Koki Ogawa scored twice, and Ko Itakura added another, establishing a solid lead before Lin Liangming's brief revival for China. Despite the defeat, China's aspirations remain alive, sitting at the bottom of Group C with six points, alongside Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, who suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to Indonesia. Former Chinese captain Fan Zhiyi highlighted the technical gap between the two teams, emphasizing China's defensive challenges and injury woes. Japan's win enhances their confidence with 16 points from six matches, while Australia sits second with seven points after a dramatic draw against Bahrain. The top two teams from the group will qualify for the World Cup in 2026.