Japan wrapped up the KIRIN WORLD CHALLENGE 2026 in style on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning, Japan time), claiming a first-ever win over England thanks to a 1-0 victory in London.
The first quarter of the game was a well-balanced affair with neither team really able to fashion any clear attempts on goal, but Kaoru Mitoma broke the deadlock for Japan when he rounded off a lightning break in the 23rd minute.
The former Kawasaki Frontale star won possession after applying pressure to England’s Cole Palmer, and after a quick interchange of passes between ex-Sagan Tosu player Daichi Kamada, former Kashima Antlers striker Ayase Ueda, and Mitoma, the ball was fed out to Keito Nakamura, previously of Gamba Osaka, on the left.
He carried it into the penalty area and then squared back across goal for Mitoma, whose casual side-foot into the bottom corner silenced the majority of the 79,233 fans packed into Wembley Stadium.
After taking the lead the Samurai Blue did well to prevent the hosts mounting any kind of immediate recovery, and the closest England came in the first half was a curled effort from Elliott Anderson in the 34th minute that was deflected onto the bar by another ex-G-Osaka player, and Japan captain for the night, Ritsu Doan.
Ueda then went close to doubling Japan’s lead four minutes before half-time, receiving a pass from Kaishu Sano, also formerly of Kashima Antlers, but under pressure from Ezri Konsa his effort squirted up onto the crossbar and behind for a corner.
Doan then had another opportunity for Japan five minutes after the restart, breaking in behind on the right but seeing his near post shot saved by the legs of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England ramped up their efforts to get back into the game as the second half wore on, but Konsa headed wide in the 57th minute and Morgan Rogers dinked a free-kick from just outside the area into the Japan wall eight minutes later.
Nakamura showed that Japan also still posed a threat when he cut in and curled an effort just wide of the far post in the 69th minute, before Marcus Rashford fired a shot straight at former Urawa Reds goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and Jarrod Bowen hooked the rebound past the post in the 78th minute.
As the pressure built Japan held their nerve impressively, with former Nagoya Grampus defender Yukinari Sugawara heading a Harry Maguire header to safety in the 83rd minute, Suzuki denying Lewis Hall’s fizzing strike six minutes later, and Rogers blazing over the bar in the final minute to ensure Japan were able to celebrate a historic triumph at one of the world’s most famous venues.
