Japan on Tuesday defeated Syria 5-0 at Edin Peace Wing Hiroshima in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match. Ayaz Ueda, Ritsu Doan, Yuki Soma and Takumi Minamino scored a goal each for Japan, while Syrian centre-back Thayer Kuroma scored an own goal to contribute to the final score.

It’s crazy that the final round of AFC World Cup qualifying matches are not being played together. After Japan beat Syria, North Korea know they only need one point vs. Myanmar. Also after South Korea beat China, Thailand can still qualify if they beat Singapore.

— Yash Marathe (@ymarathe) June 11, 2024

Asian Cup – Round of 16 Ties Set:

🇹🇯 Tajikistan vs 🇦🇪 UAE
🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇯🇴 Jordan

🇦🇺 Australia vs 🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia vs 🇰🇷 South Korea

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan vs 🇹🇭 Thailand
🇶🇦 Qatar vs 🇵🇸 Palestine

🇧🇭 Bahrain vs 🇯🇵 Japan
🇮🇷 Iran vs 🇸🇾 Syria pic.twitter.com/O3kPCgse8b

— FootRankings (@FootRankings) January 25, 2024

Ueda opened the scoring in the 13th minute, while Duan doubled the lead six minutes later. Soma converted the spot kick in the 73rd minute and Minamino rounded off proceedings with a goal five minutes before the final whistle. Kroma, who plays for Indian club Mumbai City FC, complicated things for the evening with her goal in the 21st minute of the match.

Japan adopted a 3-4-2-1 formation with Ueda leading the front line, with Kubo supported by Minamino in attacking midfield positions.

Syria went into the game in a traditional 4-4-2 formation, with O. Al Soma and TA Cervera Cadi as their two strikers for the contest. Kuroma started the game in the center of the backline, but there was a reason why Syria came on so early in the game against the Japanese heavyweights.

Kroma joined Mumbai City FC in the January transfer window for the 2023–24 season. He was an integral part of the team that won the ISL Cup in April by defeating Mohun Bagan Supergiant in the final held at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.