Japan vs China PR Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (AFC) | Group C
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A huge Group C showdown early on in the third round of AFC FIFA World Cup qualifiers sees Japan take on China PR.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: UK – 11:35am / US ET – 6:35am / US PT – 3:35am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Bet365 & FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
JAPAN PREVIEW: STRONG SQUAD LEAVES JAPAN WELL-SET
Japan sailed through their second round qualification group with a 100% record from their six matches played. A total of 18 points from a possible 18, including 24 goals score and none conceded, it couldn’t have been beaten for the Samurai Blue, who of course reached the round of 16 at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
They boast plenty of seasoned professionals both domestically and abroad, including Liverpool’s Wataru Endo in midfield. Takumi Minamino and Daizen Maeda will both pose significant attacking threats should they feature in this game.
CHINA PR PREVIEW: IMPROVEMENT NEEDED FROM SECOND ROUND
China PR enter this particular contest as significant underdogs but with relatively little to lose, can try and play with freedom in a bid to potentially cause an upset. They only just did enough to make it through to this latest round of World Cup qualifying, finishing second in their last group stage and failure to improve on that would likely see them knocked out at this stage.
It’s valid to say that China PR have players capable of causing Japan problems, but key for any success will be for them to set up extremely well off the ball and to defend strongly as their opponents look to push bodies forward whenever they can.
JAPAN TEAM NEWS: TOMIYASU OUT BUT CELTIC DUO HATATE AND MAEDA COULD BE DRAFTED IN
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Osako; Taniguchi, Itakura, Machida; Doan, Endo, Hatate, Nakamura; Maeda, Ueda, Minamino
UNAVAILABLE: Tomiyasu (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
CHINA PR TEAM NEWS: TWO UP TOP LIKELY FOR CHINA PR
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): D. Wang; Yang, Zhu, Huang, Liu; Wu, Jiang, S. Wang, Xie; Fernandinho, Yuning
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
JAPAN VS CHINA PR PREDICTION
The expectation is that Japan will enjoy controlling large periods of this game and you certainly wouldn’t imagine that any complacency will be shown from a squad of their experience. Key for Japan is showing patience if they do not score early and maintaining a strong grip on proceedings, waiting for the right opportunity to come.
However, a team of Japan’s class both from a defensive and attacking perspective should really wind up too strong for China PR and is well worth backing to not only win this match, but to win it well, by at least two clear goals.
JAPAN VS CHINA PR TIP: JAPAN TO WIN WITH -1 HANDICAP
