Japan cruise past Myanmar 5-0 in World Cup qualifying

Yangon: Japan cruised pastMyanmar5 0 in World Cup qualifying in Yangon on Thursday to maintain their 100 percent record, with their place in the next...

Yangon: Japan cruised past Myanmar 5-0 in World Cup qualifying in Yangon on Thursday to maintain their 100 percent record, with their place in the next round already secured.

Keito Nakamura and Ritsu Doan scored in the first half for Hajime Moriyasu's side, before Koki Ogawa grabbed a double and Nakamura added another after the break.

Japan clinched their place in the next round without kicking a ball in March when FIFA said their away game against North Korea would not be rescheduled.

North Korea were supposed to stage the game in the capital Pyongyang but, five days before the game, officials abruptly said the isolated country could not play host, without giving a reason.

Japan are looking to qualify for their eighth straight World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico in 2026.