Japan launched their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with an impressive 7-0 victory over China at Saitama Stadium. Wataru Endo opened the scoring in the 12th minute, followed by a goal from Kaoru Mitoma before halftime. The second half saw Takumi Minamino score twice, with Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda, and Takefusa Kubo adding to the rout. Japan's dominance was evident as they restricted China to just one shot throughout the match, showcasing their attacking prowess with a total of 102 entries into the final third. This result marks a significant turnaround for Japan, who have struggled in previous qualifiers. They aim to secure one of the top two spots in their group to automatically qualify for the World Cup.