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China Falls 3-1 to Japan in 2026 World Cup AFC Qualifiers

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On Tuesday, China faced a tough challenge, losing 3-1 to Japan in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifying tournament. The match took place in Xiamen, located in southeast China’s Fujian Province, and marked another disappointing result for the Chinese national team, who now find themselves at the bottom of Group C.

This was the second meeting between the two teams in this tournament stage. In their first encounter, Japan dominated with a 7-0 victory, setting the tone for a challenging campaign for China. Following that loss, China endured a three-game losing streak before bouncing back with consecutive wins against Indonesia and Bahrain. However, their hopes of sustaining that momentum were dashed by Japan’s clinical performance.

A Match Defined by Set Pieces

The opening 30 minutes saw both sides struggling to create clear chances. However, Japan broke the deadlock in the 39th minute. Koki Ogawa capitalized on a corner kick from the left, heading the ball past China’s goalkeeper to give Japan a 1-0 lead. Just before halftime, another corner kick proved decisive for the visitors. Koki Machida’s precise header set up Ko Itakura, who extended Japan’s lead to 2-0.

China’s Brief Resurgence

China came out fighting in the second half, and their efforts paid off early. In the 48th minute, Lin Liangming converted a sharp through ball from Wei Shihao, firing a low shot into the left corner of Japan’s goal to make it 2-1. The home crowd erupted with hope, but their optimism was short-lived.

Just six minutes later, Japan struck again. Junya Ito launched a pinpoint cross from the right wing, which Koki Ogawa converted with another header, sealing his second goal of the match and Japan’s third. Despite trailing 3-1, China pushed forward in search of a comeback. Wei Shihao came close to reducing the deficit in the 70th minute with a powerful shot from the edge of the box, but it was not enough.

Coach Reflects on Team’s Performance

After the match, China’s coach, Branko Ivankovic, praised his team’s effort despite the defeat.

“I feel happy about my players. Against a strong Japanese team, they all fought hard on the pitch and were brave to press high in the front,” said Ivankovic. “We did some set-piece defending practices before, but one second of distraction changed the result. We will improve our set-piece defense in the future and help our players stay more focused on the pitch.”

Group C Standings Tighten

With this victory, Japan remains dominant at the top of Group C with 16 points. In other Group C action, Indonesia pulled off a surprising 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, while Bahrain held Australia to a 2-2 draw. The Socceroos currently sit in second place with seven points. Behind them, four teams—including China—are tied with six points, but China’s inferior goal difference places them at the bottom of the group.

Looking Ahead

As the race for World Cup qualification intensifies, China faces an uphill battle to climb the Group C standings. Improving their set-piece defense and maintaining focus throughout matches will be critical if they hope to turn their fortunes around in the remaining games.

For more updates and insights into the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, stay tuned!

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