Japan vs. Saudi Arabia: World Cup Qualifying Preview and Predictions

Japan aims to keep its unbeaten record in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers facing Saudi Arabia, who sit third in Group C. Japan secured qualification after defeating Bahrain, while Saudi Arabia struggles with only two victories in their last seven matches. Both teams face injuries, potentially impacting their lineups. The anticipated outcome favors Japan based on their strong performance to date in the qualifiers.

Japan seeks to preserve its unbeaten streak in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as they face Saudi Arabia in Saitama on Tuesday. Having secured qualification with a recent 2-0 victory against Bahrain, Japan’s Samurai Blue remains firmly on track, while Saudi Arabia currently occupies third place in Group C.

The Samurai Blue solidified their position as the first qualified team for the World Cup after defeating Bahrain, aided by goals from Daichi Kamada and Take Kubo. Japan boasts an impressive record of 13 qualifying matches without defeat, including six victories from seven games in the critical third stage of the qualification process, with a draw in one match. They aim to maintain their unbeaten record in their final three matches against Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Indonesia.

Japan has exhibited potent offense, scoring 24 goals across seven Group C matches, which outstrips other teams in the second qualifying round by ten goals. Their defensive strength is underscored by the fact that they have achieved 11 clean sheets throughout the qualifiers.

Conversely, Saudi Arabia faces challenges in securing a place at the World Cup for the third consecutive time. They have only won two of their seven qualifying matches, with a draw and two losses. Their recent 1-0 victory against China, thanks to a second-half goal from Salem Al-Dawsari, offers a glimmer of hope, but they sit just one point away from an automatic qualification spot while remaining three points clear of last place.

Saudi Arabia needs to enhance their attacking performance, having failed to score in four of their last five qualifying matches. Nonetheless, they have displayed resilience in away games this cycle, achieving three wins, two draws, and one loss.

In terms of team news, Japan will be without midfielder Hidemasa Morita and forward Ayase Ueda due to injuries and are expected to fill their positions with Ao Tanaka and Shuto Machino. Kamada is pushing for a starting role following his impactful substitute appearance, while Junya Ito may also start. Saudi Arabia will likely be missing defender Saud Abdulhamid, along with concerns about Hassan Kadesh’s fitness after his recent injury, leading to expected placements for Ali Lajami and Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti to fill their roles.

The predicted lineups showcase Japan’s potential formation with Suzuki, Seko, Itakura, H. Ito, J. Ito, Endo, Tanaka, Mitoma, Kubo, Kamada, and Machino. For Saudi Arabia, a formidable lineup could feature Al-Aqidi, Al-Shanqeeti, Tambakti, Lajami, Boushal, Al-Juwayr, Al-Ghamdi, Yahya, N. Al-Dawsari, S. Al-Dawsari, and Al-Buraikan. The expected outcome is Japan winning 2-1 over Saudi Arabia, as their strong track record makes them the favorites in this matchup.

In conclusion, Japan is positioned strongly in their pursuit of maintaining an unbeaten record in the World Cup qualifying round. Their offensive prowess and solid defense stand as significant advantages against Saudi Arabia, who face formidable challenges in their qualification campaign. Despite recent struggles, Saudi Arabia’s desire for a positive result could make for an entertaining encounter, yet Japan’s favorable statistics tilt predictions in their favor.

Original Source: www.sportsmole.co.uk