Fri Oct 11 04:51:30 UTC 2024: ## Samurai Blue Aim for Sixth Straight Win Against Saudi Arabia in World Cup Qualifiers

**Jeddah, Saudi Arabia** – Japan, riding high on their impressive winning streak since the Asian Cup, will travel to Saudi Arabia on Thursday night looking to extend their perfect record in the AFC World Cup qualifiers. The match, scheduled for the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, promises a thrilling encounter between two of Group C’s top contenders.

The Samurai Blue, led by manager Hajime Moriyasu, have been in dominant form, demolishing both China (7-0) and Bahrain (5-0) in their opening two qualifiers. They boast a star-studded squad featuring Premier League players like Wataru Endo (Liverpool) and Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), along with the experienced Takumi Minamino (Monaco).

Saudi Arabia, under the guidance of former Inter Milan and Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, are also making their presence felt in the group. They secured a crucial win against China in September, despite playing a man down for most of the match. However, they are still trailing Japan by two points in the Group C standings.

The Green Falcons have a strong pedigree in the World Cup, most notably their historic victory over eventual champions Argentina in 2022. However, they will be looking to overcome the absence of key midfielder Mohamed Kanno, who is suspended following a red card in their last match.

This encounter will be a rematch of their last meeting in February 2022, which saw Japan claim a 2-0 victory. With both teams eager to secure a place in the 2026 World Cup in North America, the match is expected to be a tightly contested affair.

Despite the Green Falcons’ home advantage, the Samurai Blue’s recent form and impressive firepower make them the slight favorites going into the match. The result could significantly impact the race for automatic qualification spots in Group C.

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