Saudi Arabia are gearing up to host Japan in an exciting AFC 2026 World Cup qualifier at King Abdullah Sports City on Thursday. This match marks a critical point for both teams in the third round of World Cup qualifying.
Japan arrive in Jeddah boasting an impressive record, having won all their previous two matches in the group. Conversely, the Green Falcons have shown resilience, remaining unbeaten in their group after a challenging start.
Recent Form of Both Teams
Saudi Arabia began the qualifiers with mixed results. They drew 1-1 against Indonesia, a disappointing result, before rebounding with a solid 2-1 victory over China. In that match, despite playing with ten men after midfielder Mohamed Kanno received a red card, the Green Falcons secured three points thanks to center-back Hasan Kadesh’s brace.
Currently, Saudi Arabia sit in second place in Group C, two points behind Japan, and one point ahead of Bahrain. The Green Falcons are determined to reach the World Cup for the third consecutive time and the seventh in their history, hoping to build on their memorable victory over Argentina in 2022.
Japan, on the other hand, have had an outstanding start. They opened their campaign with a stunning 7-0 win over China, followed by a dominant 5-0 victory against Bahrain. The Samurai Blue leads Group C with six points, having scored a total of 12 goals while conceding none.
Key Players to Watch
Saudi Arabia will need to adjust their lineup due to Kanno’s suspension. Abdulelah Al-Malki is expected to partner with Musab Al-Juwayr in midfield. Despite scoring an own goal against China, Ali Lajami will likely keep his spot in the back three alongside Kadesh and Hassan Tambakti.
Italian coach Roberto Mancini has called up Saudi-U20 forward Thamer Al-Khaibri to bolster the squad ahead of Thursday’s crucial game.
For Japan, Takumi Minamino has been in excellent form, scoring crucial goals. Sporting Lisbon’s Hidemasa Morita, who also shone against Bahrain, will be essential in midfield, likely partnering with Liverpool’s Wataru Endo.
Head-to-Head History
In their previous 18 encounters, Japan has claimed 11 victories, while Saudi Arabia has won six times, with one match ending in a draw. The last meeting took place in February 2022, where Japan triumphed 2-0, a result the Green Falcons will be eager to reverse.
Possible Lineups:
Saudi Arabia: (3-4-2-1)
Al Owais; Tambakti, Lajami, Kadesh; Abdulhamid, Al-Juwayr, Al Malki, Al Dawsari; Al Hamddan, Al-Dawsari, Al-Buraikan
Japan: (3-4-3)
Suzuki; Itakura, Taniguchi, Machida; Doan, Endo, Morita, Mitoma; Minamino, Kamada, Ueda
A Crucial Test for Both Teams
As Japan seek to maintain their flawless record, Saudi Arabia aim to make a strong statement at home. The stakes are high in this “group of death,” featuring powerhouse teams like Saudi Arabia and Australia.
With the capacity of King Abdullah Sports City at 62,345, the atmosphere promises to be electric. For both teams, this match is pivotal in their quest for World Cup qualification. The challenge is set, and fans can expect a thrilling encounter as the Green Falcons look to upset the Samurai Blue in front of their home crowd.
