There are now 17 teams qualified for the World Cup in the Emirate, with the kick-off scheduled for November 21 and the final on December 18.
There are still 15 places to be allocated.
A double from incoming Kaoru Mitoma in the dying minutes of the match (89th and 90th+4) ensured the Japanese Samurai Blue one of the first two places in Group B in the Asian qualifying zone.
Like Saudi Arabia which can no longer be joined by the Australian Socceroos.
All is not yet lost for Australia, supported Thursday by 42,000 spectators in its stadium Australia in the rain.
She will play her place at the World Cup in two play-offs.
This is Japan's seventh consecutive appearance at the World Cup.
The selection of the archipelago had climbed to the round of 16 in Russia where it fell to Belgium (3-2).
Trained by Hervé Renard, the Saudi Green Falcons, who came out in the first round in 2018 – third in their group behind Russia and Uruguay – will play their sixth in the world with their Qatari neighbor.
© 2022 AFP