Son Seeks to Put Spurs’ Struggles Behind Him as Japan Approaches World Cup Qualification

Japan has the opportunity to become the first team to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup this week, while Son Heung-min aims to shake off his Tottenham troubles and lead South Korea to the finals.

Asian nations are set to compete in two rounds of matches on Thursday and the following Tuesday as the qualifying phase for the expanded 48-team tournament in North America reaches a crucial point.

If Japan defeats Bahrain at home in Saitama on Thursday, they will effectively confirm their place, even with three matches still remaining.

Should they falter, it seems inevitable that they will clinch a spot in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, especially with another home game against Saudi Arabia scheduled for next week.

Hajime Moriyasu’s team currently sits nine points clear of Australia at the top of Group C, boasting five wins and one draw from their six qualifying matches, with an impressive tally of 22 goals scored and just two conceded.

Moriyasu has selected a full-strength squad, featuring Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, acknowledging that there are numerous other players who are also deserving of selection.

“Many players are showcasing their abilities in the J. League and in Europe and would fit well into this squad,” he stated.

There are three groups in the third round of Asian qualifiers for 2026, with the top two teams from each group earning direct entry into the World Cup.

Japan sits comfortably on 16 points with four matches still to play, but the battle for the second qualifying spot from the group is set to be intensely competitive.

Australia has amassed seven points, while Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and China are all close behind with six points each.

Indonesia’s Dutch Influence

The Socceroos will be playing host to an Indonesian team in Sydney on Thursday, who will be under the guidance of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert for the first time.

Indonesia has heavily drawn from Dutch resources in their quest to reach the World Cup for the first time since they gained independence from the Netherlands in 1945.

The team has brought in a dozen players born in the Netherlands and, in January, appointed Kluivert as their head coach, with Jordi Cruyff joining as a technical adviser.

South Korea is well on track and could secure their place at the 2026 World Cup if they achieve home victories against Oman and Jordan.

32-year-old Son has faced challenges with his fitness and form in the Premier League this season, netting seven goals for Spurs, as the club finds itself in the lower half of the table.

Despite this, he remains South Korea’s key figure, having scored 51 goals in 131 appearances.

“While there is a lot of discussion surrounding his recent performance, including his goal count,” said coach Hong Myung-bo, “We must not overlook what he has achieved thus far.”

However, South Korea has suffered a setback with Bayern Munich centre-back Kim Min-jae sidelined due to an Achilles tendon injury.

South Korea leads Group B with 14 points, while Iraq is poised to secure the second spot with 11 points. Jordan is trailing in third place with nine points.

Iraq is set to face Kuwait and Palestine, the bottom two teams in the group.

In Group A, Iran leads with 16 points from six matches, followed by Uzbekistan on 13 points and the United Arab Emirates on 10 points.

Despite being in fourth place with seven points, Qatar’s World Cup aspirations remain alive as all teams that finish third and fourth in each group advance to the next qualifying round.