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Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
Players of China look on after the 7-0 loss to Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation qualifier game at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, Japan, September 5, 2024. /CFP
China lost to Japan 7-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifier game at Saitama Stadium 2002 in Saitama, Japan, on Thursday.
Takumi Minamino scored two goals for Japan. Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma, Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo all found the net as well.
Japan took a total of 17 shots, nine of which on target, and seven of them were converted into goals. They also led 77.2 percent-22.8 percent in ball possession and 5-2 in corner kicks. Chinese players shot once in the game, but not on target.
It has been 26 years since China beat Japan the last time. Thursday's loss also became the second-biggest international defeat, behind only the 8-0 loss to Brazil in 2012.
"We specifically focused on defense during our pre-match preparations, but we conceded too many goals during the game, and some of those should not have happened," China's head coach Branko Ivankovic said. "Twelve of the players on this national team are relatively new to international competition. The opponents in the final stage of Asian qualification are very strong, and such important games are valuable experiences, but also serve as lessons for younger players."
In the other two games in Group C on Thursday, Bahrain upset Australia 1-0 at Robina Stadium on the Gold Coast. Indonesia held Saudi Arabia 1-1 at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Top-two teams of the group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup. No. 3 and No. 4 will continue to compete in the fourth round.