Ao Tanaka helped Japan become the first country to qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico with the Leeds United star featuring in a 2-0 win over Bahrain on Thursday.
One of 16 Leeds players called-up for National Team duty during the break, Ao Tanaka was the third to take to the pitch after Charlie Crew and Sam Chambers represented Wales and Scotland on Wednesday.
Chambers scored in a 1-1 draw against Sweden and Crew impressed Wales fans in defeat to England’s U19 side. On Thursday morning, Tanaka’s Japan took on Bahrain with a win enough to qualify for 2026.
They did just that, even if it was a frustrating first 45 minutes for Japan in which Bahrain stifled a Japan side boasting Takefusa Kubo, former Liverpool star Takumi Minamino and Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.
What Japan fans are saying about Ao Tanaka after Bahrain win
The substitutes changed the game for Japan. Tanaka came on at half-time in the first roll of the dice by Japan, replacing Sporting Lisbon’s Hidemasa Morita. He added more energy into the middle of the pitch.
But it was another substitute that broke the deadlock. Crystal Palace attacker Daichi Kamada had only been on the pitch briefly before opening the scoring, before Kubo scored a second late on from an angle.
Japan fans were in their drones on social media following the win, which sees Tanaka’s side qualify for the upcoming World Cup in 15 months’ time. Plenty praised the £3.4m Leeds United signing after the win.
As per Japan fan @nsuperstar, Tanaka was the “MVP” even if he only played 45 minutes. @bikkuri_dazo praised “amazing” manager Hajime Moriyasu for bringing Tanaka in – who “completed the plan”.
Plenty of other Japan fans discussed Tanaka’s influence on the game, @wish8754 saying the passing was “completely transformed” with the £3.4m Leeds man on the pitch. @gutaino said Tanaka “took control”.
Japan’s midfield of Wataru Endo and Morita was too passive, too slow and Tanaka changed that. @p5q18 simply said Tanaka was “good” during the win and @1400kme said “Tanaka is my favourite player”.
How Japan’s 2026 World Cup qualifying table now looks
Incredibly, Japan have booked their place at next year’s tournament with three games to spare. Moriyasu has guided Tanaka and co. to six wins and a draw in seven games, collecting 19 points from seven games.
AFC’s 2026 World Cup qualifying Group C as it stands:
| Position | Games Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | GD | Points |
| 1. Japan | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 19 |
| 2. Australia | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 10 |
| 3. Saudi Arabia | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -3 | 6 |
| 4. Indonesia | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -7 | 6 |
| 5. Bahrain | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -7 | 6 |
| 6. China | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -10 | 6 |
Australia had beaten Patrick Kluivert’s Indonesia 5-1 earlier on, on Thursday. But even that was not going to stop Japan, with the top two qualifying for a 2026 place and Japan now 13 ahead of Saudi Arabia.
Japan face Saudi Arabia next Tuesday morning, with Tanaka perhaps likely to get a start even if the game is now meaningless in terms of Japan’s qualification. Then on Saturday, Tanaka and Leeds host Swansea.
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