The Japanese national team continued its positive momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup by defeating Iceland 1-0 in a Kirin Challenge Cup friendly match at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.
This victory serves as a crucial element in the Samurai Blue's preparations for the upcoming World Cup tournament. Japanese team management selected Iceland as an opponent due to their physical Northern European playing style, which closely mirrors Sweden, one of Japan's opponents in the tournament's group stage.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu used the fixture to evaluate his squad's readiness for the upcoming competitive challenges. However, the Japanese side had to work intensely to break down a highly disciplined Icelandic defense throughout the game.
Despite controlling possession and dominating the pace of the match, Japan initially struggled to convert their presence into clear-scoring opportunities. Iceland's compact defensive setup frustrated the Samurai Blue's attacking plays for the majority of the regular time.
The decisive breakthrough came in the 87th minute. NEC Nijmegen forward Koki Ogawa secured the victory for Japan by connecting with a cross from Yukinari Sugawara, sending a header past the goalkeeper. The ball struck the post before crossing the line to seal the 1-0 result.
Ogawa's late strike remained the only goal of the match until the final whistle, ensuring a narrow win for the hosts.
The result extends Japan's current winning streak to six consecutive matches. Furthermore, the Samurai Blue have managed to keep clean sheets in all five of their most recent fixtures. Before securing the win against Iceland, Japan recorded successive friendly victories over Brazil, Ghana, Bolivia, Scotland, and England.
Japan will compete in Group F at the 2026 World Cup, alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden. Following this match, Moriyasu's squad will travel to the United States on June 2, where they will host an open training session at Geodis Park in Nashville on June 8.
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