Japan

Japan entered the Kirin Challenge Cup on a winning note, securing a 1-0 victory over Iceland at the National Stadium on May 31. The win comes as the squad, set to travel to Monterrey for a pre-tournament camp, integrated a returning midfielder who recovered from an ankle injury, bolstering depth ahead of the upcoming competition. With confidence rising, Japan will look to maintain momentum and fine-tune their options as they approach the next stage of their campaign.

Japan matches up against the Netherlands in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday. Japan's last three games: W1-W1-W1 (two away, one home), and they have won both of their last two away fixtures, including a 1-0 victory over Scotland at Hampden Park and a shock 1-0 win against England at Wembley. Japan's approach is almost the exact opposite of the Netherlands, with Hajime Moriyasu's 3-at-the-back system bringing about a high-tempo style of play with lots of pressing and transition-based football. Since replacing Akira Nishino in 2018, Moriyasu has had a lot of time to mould the Samurai Blue into a disciplined and high-energy group of players that can make life difficult for any opponent. The Samurai last played in their most recent outing against Iceland, recording a routine 1-0 win at home. Moriyasu's side have only conceded twice on their travels across their last four away trips (W2, D1, L1), an average of 0.5 goals per game.