/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F21%2F37%2Fwelcome-to-sports-mole-transparent-click-area.png "Welcome to Sports Mole")
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Japan
Follow @sportsmole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F42%2Flionel-messi.jpg "Lionel Messi celebrates winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina")
2026 World Cup: Favourites and dark horses as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lamine Yamal battle for glory
Following the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the main contenders for glory in North America, as well as a couple of dark horses.Dec 5, 19:50
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2Fns-3-photo-frame-email-sportmole-11-691343fe1c5d2607279107.jpg "Lionel Messi/Harry Kane/Vinicius Junior composite")
World Cup 2026: Which teams have qualified for next year's tournament in North America?
Sports Mole takes a closer look at each team to have qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America and how they got there.Nov 18, 22:00
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F11%2Fimago1067597022-1-691484e7643c9074883978.jpg "Hajime Moriyasu, head coach of Japan")
Preview:Japan vs Bolivia - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's International Friendlies clash between Japan and Bolivia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 16, 11:01
Preview:Japan vs Ghana - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Friday's International Friendlies clash between Japan and Ghana, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 12, 12:33
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F10%2Fnaushad-qatar-manager-julen-lopetegui-attends-a-press-conference-ahead-of-his-side-s-fifa-world-cup-2026-afc-asian-qualifier-on-october-7-2025-68e6f8b335138131622738.jpg "Qatar manager Julen Lopetegui attends a press conference ahead of his side's FIFA World Cup 2026 AFC Asian qualifier on October 7, 2025")
Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates push to qualify for the 2026 World Cup: AFC standings, upcoming fixtures, story so far
As AFC 2026 World Cup qualifying resumes, Sports Mole takes a look at the story so far in Asia.Oct 12, 18:25
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F09%2Fancelotti-2-68bdc24729f06938217601.jpg "Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti on September 4, 2025")
Japan vs. Brazil: How to watch, date, time, live stream, TV channel
Sports Mole provides everything you need to know about how to watch the international friendly between Japan and Brazil.Oct 12, 01:03
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F09%2Fimago1062921010-1-68b959de1ce86757556392.jpg "Wataru Endo, Ryoya Morishita, Takefusa Kubo")
Preview:Japan vs Paraguay - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Friday's International Friendlies clash between Japan and Paraguay, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Oct 7, 13:25
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F12%2Fmauricio-pochettino.jpg "USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino at a press conference on October 11, 2024")
Preview:USA vs Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's International Friendlies clash between USA and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Sep 7, 17:12
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F09%2Fimago1063014118-1-68b958d96be02896755260.jpg "Head coach, Javier Aguirre of Mexico")
Preview:Mexico vs Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Sunday's International Friendlies clash between Mexico and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Sep 4, 10:03
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F13%2Fgiuliano-simeone.jpg "Argentina's Giuliano Simeone celebrates with Enzo Fernandez on March 25, 2025")
Which teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup - and who could join them in the autumn?
Ahead of the next batch of World Cup qualifiers, Sports Mole looks at who has already reached next summer's finals, and who could join them.Jun 11, 14:28
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F12%2Fkaoru-mitoma_1.jpg "Japan's Kaoru Mitoma on March 20, 2025")
Preview:Japan vs Indonesia - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Japan and Indonesia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 8, 21:51
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F12%2Fjackson-irvine_1.jpg "Australia's Jackson Irvine celebrates with teammates on March 20, 2025")
Preview:Australia vs. Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Australia and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Jun 3, 15:03
Preview:Japan vs. Saudi Arabia - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Japan and Saudi Arabia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 23, 13:31
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F25%2F12%2Fkaoru-mitoma-joao-pedro.jpg "Kaoru Mitoma and Joao Pedro of Brighton & Hove Albion on November 23, 2024")
Man United transfer news: Ruben Amorim told £66m Brighton star is "good enough" to play for Red Devils amid summer links
Ruben Amorim is told that a £66.2m-rated Brighton & Hove Albion star is "good enough" to play for Manchester United amid reported interest from the Red Devils.Mar 21, 17:56
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fhajime-moriyasu.jpg "Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu in June 2024.")
Preview:Japan vs. Bahrain - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Japan and Bahrain, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Mar 18, 14:10
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fbranko-ivankovic_1.jpg "China head coach Branko Ivankovic on September 4, 2024")
Preview:China vs. Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between China and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 17, 13:56
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fshin-tae-yong.jpg "Manager of Indonesia Shin Tae Yong reacts during his side's AFC match against Iraq on May 2, 2024")
Preview:Indonesia vs. Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Friday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Indonesia and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Nov 13, 14:01
Preview:Japan vs. Australia - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Tuesday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Japan and Australia, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Oct 13, 11:53
Preview:Saudi Arabia vs. Japan - prediction, team news, lineups
Sports Mole previews Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - Asia clash between Saudi Arabia and Japan, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.Oct 8, 17:12
/https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmole-media-prod.s3.gra.io.cloud.ovh.net%2F24%2F36%2Fvinicius-junior_1.jpg "Brazil's Vinicius Junior celebrates with Rodrygo after scoring on June 29, 2024")
International break fixtures: Best games to watch during the October break
International football is back, so Sports Mole runs an eye over which games promise the most intrigue, action and drama in October.Oct 7, 14:10
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