Japan on Saturday claimed the final berth in the Women's World Cup, beating Mexico, 2-0, at the National Stadium in Tokyo to win a two-game playoff.
Atlanta Beat midfielder Homare Sawa and substitute Karina Maruyama scored second-half goals for Japan, which will be the fourth Asian team in the Sept. 20-Oct. 12 tournament.
Mexico and Japan tied, 2-2, in the first leg of the playoff last weekend in Mexico City. Japan won the playoff on aggregate, 4-2.
Sawa beat Mexico goalkeeper Pamela Tajonar on a 56th-minute header from Emi Yamamoto's cross. Maruyama added a goal in the 83rd minute.
Japan has qualified for all four Women's World Cups.
Mexico, which beat Argentina in a playoff to qualify for the 1999 tournament, featured Atlanta forward Maribel Dominguez and Boston Breakers defender Monica Gonzalez.
The 16-nation field will be divided into four first-round groups at the World Cup draw July 17 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.
The field:
CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) — United States, Canada.
CONMEBOL (South America) — Brazil, Argentina.
UEFA (Europe) — Germany, Norway, Russia, Sweden, France.
AFC (Asia) — China (original host, automatic qualifier), North Korea, South Korea, Japan (playoff winner).
CAF (Africa) — Nigeria, Ghana.
OFC (Oceania) — Australia).