Saudi Arabia vs Japan Preview & Prediction | 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (AFC) | Group C
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The top two in Group C collide in what should be an exciting battle in Jeddah between second-placed Saudi Arabia and table toppers Japan, the only nation in the group to have won both their games so far.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Thursday October 10th 2024: UK – 7:00pm / US ET – 2:00pm / US PT – 11:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Bet365 & FIFA+ / US – FIFA+
SAUDI ARABIA PREVIEW: LATE WINNER SERVES AS IDEAL SPRINGBOARD
After only managing to draw against Indonesia in their opening Group C encounter, Saudi Arabia looked like they would end up dropping points again, this time vs China. Especially after having being reduced to ten-men following the sending off of midfielder Mohamed Kanno less than 20 minutes into the game.
However, Saudi Arabia went on to equalise, before stunning the hosts with a 90th minute winner courtesy of Hassan Kadesh, his second goal of the match to seal a priceless 1-2 victory for the Green Falcons.
JAPAN PREVIEW: BLUE SAMURAI FLAWLESS THUS FAR
Japan have cruised through Group C so far. Not only have their won their two matches played so far, but they are racking up goals at one end and not conceding at the other. Currently, Japan are averaging six goals per game having scored 12. Whilst on the flip side, they are still yet to give up a goal to an opponent.
Their first match was a 7-0 hammering of China and Japan didn’t stop there. Five days later they dealt Bahrain a 0-5 thrashing, the same nation who had beaten Australia less than a week prior to that.
SAUDI ARABIA TEAM NEWS: AL-GHAMDI COULD REPLACE SUSPENDED KANNO
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Al Owais; Tambakti, Lajami, Kadesh; Abdulhamid, Al-Ghamdi, Al Malki, Al Dawsari; Al Hamddan, Al-Dawsari, Al-Buraikan
UNAVAILABLE: Kanno (Suspended)
QUESTIONABLE:
JAPAN TEAM NEWS: IN-FORM MORITA MAY BE PREFERRED TO KAMADA
PREDICTED XI (3-4-3): Suzuki; Itakura, Taniguchi, Machida; Doan, Endo, Morita, Mitoma; Minamino, Maeda, Ueda
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SAUDI ARABIA VS JAPAN PREDICTION
A contest with plenty at stake for both nations. With home advantage in their favour and being below Japan in the table, the onus will be on Saudi Arabia to force the issue and deploy an attacking playstyle in a bid to gain three points. But it’s difficult to ignore Japan’s obvious threat going forwards and they boast the speed to capitalise on any additional space inside the opposition half. All the ingredients are in place for a high-scoring encounter and both teams to score has to be favoured.
SAUDI ARABIA VS JAPAN TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
