Japan was handed a kind draw for the second round of World Cup qualifiers for the 2018 tournament in Russia on Tuesday when the former Asian champion was placed in Group E against Syria, Afghanistan, Singapore, and Cambodia.
None of Japan's opponents qualified for the Asian Cup in Australia in January and Vahid Halilhodzic's men should have little trouble advancing to the final round.
"We are in a good group. Our opponents are not at our level," said Halilhodzic. "We want to win all our games through to Russia. I can't say that winning our away games is going to be easy, but we have to go there with confidence."
Japan's away games against war-torn Syria and Afghanistan will likely be played at a neutral venue.
The second round of qualifiers will be held from June 11 until March 29, 2016, with 40 teams divided into eight groups playing in a round-robin format.
The group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the final round of qualifying.
Japan has no qualifier on the first match day, June 11, and will kick off its campaign away to Singapore on June 16. The four-time Asian champion plays its first home qualifier against Cambodia on Sept. 3.