Japan wrapped up the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a 5-0 victory over Syria, giving them a perfect record of six wins from six matches in the competition.

Ayase Ueda got the Samurai Blue off to a flying start. The former Kashima Antlers man now at Feyenoord in the Netherlands headed home a cross after just 13 minutes to give Japan an early lead.

Six minutes later, it was Gamba Osaka product Ritsu Doan who added to the advantage when he cut in onto his left foot and wrong-footed the goalkeeper with a blistering near-post shot that found the back of the net.

Syria helped Japan out moments later, putting the ball into their own goal, and after 21 minutes the Samurai Blue had a three-goal cushion.

Japan were mostly content to control the match and sit on their lead, but they had some chances and finally did add another tally when Yuki Soma was taken down in the box. The referee pointed to the spot and the winger, who began his career at Nagoya Grampus, buried the penalty kick to make it 4-0.

Cerezo Osaka product Takumi Minamino put a bow on the match in the 85th minute when he danced by a defender before finishing with a clinical curler that gave the Samurai Blue a 5-0 victory.

Japan didn’t just win all six of their matches in the second round of qualifying; they out-scored their opponents 24-0 in an astoundingly dominant series of performances.

The Samurai Blue will next take the pitch in the third round, which begins in September and can qualify Japan for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.