Japan’s national football team just did something no other country managed to do first: lock in a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The qualification came after a victory over Bahrain in the AFC qualifiers on May 26, 2026, making Japan the earliest nation to officially book their place in the tournament.
For Japanese fans living in Singapore, that was reason enough to take the celebration public. Gatherings broke out across the city-state as expatriates and supporters marked what has become a deeply familiar, yet still emotionally charged, ritual. This is Japan’s eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, a streak dating back to their debut on the global stage in 1998.
A historic streak and a party to match
Eight straight World Cups is no small thing. For context, that unbroken run puts Japan among the most reliable qualifiers in Asian football history. Every four years since France 1998, the Samurai Blue have found a way to get it done.
The Brazil factor
