Japan tasted defeat in their penultimate qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup away to Australia on Thursday night, going down 1-0 to a late Aziz Behich strike.
The Samurai Blue have already secured their place in next year’s finals in North America, and manager Hajime Moriyasu gave seven players their first call-ups for the game against Australia and next week’s clash with Indonesia in Osaka.
Two of those, Kota Tawaratsumida of the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side FC TOKYO and former FC Machida Zelvia winger Yu Hirakawa, started in Perth, with ex-Kashiwa Reysol defender Hiroki Sekine also making his debut.
Despite having so many new faces on the pitch, Japan started the brighter of the two sides in front of 57,226 fans at Perth Stadium, and Yuito Suzuki had their first clear sight of goal in the 28th minute.
The 23-year-old, who shone for Shimizu S-Pulse before moving to Europe, surged forward through the centre of the pitch but sent his shot off target from just inside the box.
Hirakawa then saw a fizzing effort from distance skid narrowly past the post in the 37th minute, before threatening again two minutes before half time when he drew a save from Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.
Australia’s first meaningful chance arrived three minutes after the restart, but Behich was unable to get his attempt on target after a loose ball fell to him on the edge of the Japan penalty area.
Japan continued to have more possession as the second half wore on, and could have taken the lead through substitute Takefusa Kubo in the 80th minute.
The former FC TOKYO starlet did everything right as he cut inside to make space for himself 15 yards out, but his right-foot shot flew agonisingly wide of Ryan’s left-hand post.
That seemed to signify that the game was destined to finish as a goalless draw, but Australia landed a sucker punch in the 90th minute to snatch all three points.
Substitute Riley McGree broke into the right-hand side of the Japan box and cut an inviting ball back from close to the byline, and left-back Behich adjusted his body well to wrap his right foot around the ball and send it flying into the back of the net.
The defeat was Japan’s first in Group C in the third round of qualifiers, but they have an opportunity to bounce back quickly next Tuesday when they square off against Indonesia at Suita City Football Stadium.
