Soccer

Japan to host Mongolia at Saitama Stadium when World Cup qualifying resumes

Kyodo

Japan will play its home opener in the second round of 2022 World Cup Asian qualifying against Mongolia at Saitama Stadium on Oct. 10, the Japan Football Association announced Monday.

The Samurai Blue will start their Group F campaign against Myanmar in Yangon on Sept. 10 and travel to Dushanbe to play Tajikistan on Oct. 15. Japan will also face Kyrgyzstan away on Nov. 14.

The second round of Asian qualifying for the World Cup finals in Qatar will run from Sept. 5, 2019-June 9, 2020.

The 34 top-ranked sides in Asia, along with the six winners of first-round ties, have been drawn in eight qualifying groups. The group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the third round. The 12 sides will also automatically qualify for the 2023 Asian Cup.

Led by Hajime Moriyasu, Japan is hoping to qualify for a seventh straight World Cup as the tournament comes to Asia for just the second time.

GET THE BEST OF THE JAPAN TIMES IN FIVE EASY PIECES WITH TAKE 5

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

LATEST SOCCER STORIES

Koki Ogawa kicks the ball in Saturday's match against Hong Kong in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship final round in Busan, South Korea. Ogawa scored three goals in Japan's 5-0 victory.

Koki Ogawa scores three goals as Japan trounces Hong Kong: Koki Ogawa scored a hat trick in his international debut as Japan thumped Hong Kong 5-0 in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship final round on Saturday. The 22-year-old striker staked his ...

Nadeshiko Japan's Mana Iwabuchi (right) scored a hat trick against China on Saturday in an EAFF E-1 Women's Football Championship match in Busan, South Korea.

Mana Iwabuchi's hat trick propels Japan past China: Mana Iwabuchi led the way with a hat trick as Nadeshiko Japan beat China 3-0 in the EAFF E-1 Women's Football Championship final round on Saturday. Coming off a 9-0 demolition of Taiwan, ...

Shonan Bellmare players salute the team's fans after Saturday's match against Tokushima Vortis at BMW Stadium in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The promotion-relegation playoff final ended in a 1-1 draw, and Bellmare will remain in J1 next season.

Bellmare keep place in J1 after draw with Vortis in promotion-relegation playoff final: Shonan Bellmare will stay in the J. League first division next season after salvaging a 1-1 draw against J2 side Tokushima Vortis in the promotion-relegation playoff final on Saturday. T...