Japan and the United Arab Emirates face off in their first Asia World Cup Qualifier on Thursday.

Japan finished atop its qualifying World Cup group for the 2014 tournament with five wins, two draws and one defeat. The United Arab Emirates did not even manage to get out of the third round of tournament, finishing with three points in six games.

The United Arab Emirates qualified for one World Cup back in 1990 and finished last with three defeats.

Japan has qualified for the last five World Cups with its best showings coming in 2002 and 2010. In 2002 the team played host and managed to get all the way to the round of 16. It matched that very effort in 2010 as well. The team was poor in the recent tournament, finishing last in a group that included Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece.

The two sides have been evenly matched throughout their competitive history. Both teams have managed five wins against one another and eight draws through 18 contests.

Prediction

Japan is undoubtedly the favorite. Look for a 3-0 win for the Samurais over the United Arab Emirates.

Start Time, Date, Location

Japan and the United Arab Emirates kick off at 6:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday.

Live Stream and TV Info

The match between Japan and the United Arab Emirates will be broadcast on via the ESPN3 App.