Japan received a terrific send-off ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Sunday evening, as they defeated Iceland 1-0 in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2026.
A late goal from Koki Ogawa was enough to seal victory for the Samurai Blue, who were cheered on throughout by 62,212 fans at Japan National Stadium.
Former Gamba Osaka winger Keito Nakamura was the first to threaten in the eighth minute, cutting in from the left and stroking a right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the far post.
The game then took a brief pause for an emotional moment five minutes later, when Maya Yoshida was substituted off and given a guard of honour by both teams as the curtain came down on the erstwhile Japan captain and Nagoya Grampus centre-back’s 127th appearance for his country.
After play resumed, Iceland almost moved in front in the 31st minute, but Logi Tomasson saw his terrific effort from outside the area bend just off target.
It was then Takefusa Kubo’s turn to threaten for Japan, with the former FC TOKYO forward driving a left-footed effort at Iceland goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson in the 36th minute and then, two minutes later, chipping a cross into the area for Nakamura, whose header was also saved by Valdimarsson.
There was time for each side to work the goalkeepers again before the interval, with ex-Urawa Reds stopper Zion Suzuki repelling Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s attempt from outside the area in the 44th minute, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, formerly of Avispa Fukuoka, sending a wonderfully-controlled volley at Valdimarsson in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.
Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu made four changes at the break, and one of the players introduced, FC TOKYO’s ageless full-back Yuto Nagatomo, fired another volley at Valdimarsson 10 minutes into the second period as Japan continued to search for an opener.
Iceland also remained a threat, however, and Willum Thor Willumsson stabbed a good chance from close range just wide after an hour.
It was Japan who were keener to break the deadlock though, and ex-Yokohama FC striker Ogawa fizzed an effort narrowly past the post in the 63rd minute, before Tomiyasu saw a header deflected behind for a corner 13 minutes later.
The breakthrough then finally came with three minutes remaining, when former Nagoya wing-back Yukinari Sugawara whipped in a beautiful cross from the right flank and Ogawa glanced a perfect header across goal and in off the far post.
Japan’s next game comes in the form of their Group F opener against the Netherlands in Dallas, Texas on Sunday 14th June, before they take on Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on Saturday 20th June and Sweden back in Dallas on Thursday 25th June (all fixtures local time, Japan time is one day later).
