Japan has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup finals first, while South Korea wasted its opportunity for an early qualification after underperforming against Oman.

The Japanese national team achieved a 2-0 victory against Bahrain on Nov. 20 at the Saitama Stadium 2002, confirming their spot in the finals with 19 points (6 wins, 1 draw).

Regardless of the results of the remaining matches, Japan has secured a direct ticket to the finals by finishing in one of the top two positions in the group. Having qualified for the finals for the eighth consecutive time, Japan became the first team among non-host nations to confirm their place in the finals.

In the early stages of the match, Japan had a goal by Wataru Endo in the 9th minute from a corner kick, but it was disallowed after a VAR review confirmed a handball foul by Ayase Ueda. The first half ended without either team managing to create significant attacking opportunities.

The deadlock was broken in the 21st minute of the second half. Ueda passed the ball to Takefusa Kubo, who was moving forward near the halfway line. Kubo sent the ball to Kamada, who finished it off in the penalty area, scoring the opening goal. This moment marked the first effective shot on goal of the match.

Japan sealed the deal in the 42nd minute. Kubo, receiving a pass from Junya Ito, shook the net with a left-footed shot, completing a 2-0 victory.

In this match, Kubo recorded 1 goal and 1 assist, leading Japan to victory. Japan thus successfully qualified for the World Cup finals for the eighth consecutive time, reaffirming its status as the strongest team in Asia.

In contrast, South Korea played to a disappointing 1-1 draw against Oman in the third qualifying round B group match, which was held at the Goyang Stadium on the same day.

With 1 point gained, South Korea maintained first place in Group B with 15 points (4 wins, 3 draws). However, had South Korea secured 3 points against Oman and also won against Jordan on the 25th, they could have confirmed their place in the World Cup finals early, regardless of the matches against Iraq and Kuwait in June. Instead, this draw means they'll have to wait until the June A match.

South Korea lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jumin Kyu was positioned at the front, with Heung-Min Son, Jae-Sung Lee, and Hee-Chan Hwang in the second line of attack. Seung-Ho Baek and Yong-Woo Park protected the back four, with Tae-Seok Lee, Kyung-Won Kwon, Yu-Min Cho, and Young-Woo Seol forming the defensive line. Hyun-Woo Jo was in goal.

Oman also deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation. Isam Al Sabhi aimed to score, while Abdul Al Maseefi, Ali Al Busaidi, and Yamil Al Yahmadi were positioned in the second line of attack. Abdallah Fawaz and Said Al Alawi occupied the midfield, and Al Roshidi, Khalid Al Buraiki, Ahmed Al Kamishi, and Abdallah Al Harthi formed the back four. The goalkeeper's gloves were worn by Ibrahim Al Mukaini.

In the early stages of the match against Oman, South Korea held a dominant possession, but was unable to create threatening opportunities due to lack of attacking coordination and decisiveness.

In the 41st minute of the first half, Hee-Chan Hwang scored the opening goal after receiving a pass from Kang-In Lee, but in the 35th minute of the second half, concentration slipped, allowing Ali Al Busaidi to equalize. Despite putting in a full effort for a win towards the end of the match, it ended in a draw without any additional goals.

The situation is dire not only in terms of performance but also regarding the players' condition. Seung-Ho Baek was substituted due to injury in the 38th minute of the first half, and in the 38th minute of the second half, Kang-In Lee had to be carried off on a stretcher due to an ankle injury.

Coach Hong Myung-Bo noted after the match, "This game was the worst match in the final qualifying round," acknowledging issues with performance and player combinations. Heung-Min Son remarked, "It was a day to be sorry for myself and my teammates," adding that "there's no time to be disappointed."

South Korea is now burdened with the necessity to win against Jordan on the 25th. In contrast, Japan has confirmed its place in the finals early and can approach the remaining matches with ease. The stark contrast between the two games held on the same day raises concerns about the current state of South Korean football.

[OSEN]