Japan’s FIFA World Cup campaign ended in heartbreaking fashion after a 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the Round of 32, with Junya Ito and Zion Suzuki expressing pride despite the painful exit. The Samurai Blue looked on course to make history after Kaishu Sano fired them ahead in the 29th minute, raising hopes of securing…
Brazil will take on Japan in the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 on Monday, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side eager to avenge a painful defeat suffered less than a year ago. The five-time world champions were stunned 3-2 by Japan in a friendly in Tokyo in October 2025, despite holding a two-goal advantage. Japan scored…
Japan secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage after battling to a 1-1 draw with Sweden in their final Group F match in Arlington, Texas. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki played a decisive role in the result, producing four saves, including two crucial stops in stoppage time, to ensure Japan claimed the point they…
Japan delivered a dominant 4-0 victory over Tunisia at Estadio BBVA on Saturday, setting new national and continental records at the FIFA World Cup. The emphatic win marked Japan’s largest-ever margin of victory at the tournament and the biggest World Cup triumph achieved by an Asian nation. The result moved the Samurai Blue closer to…
Japan fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands in their opening Group F match of the FIFA World Cup, with Daichi Kamada scoring a dramatic late equaliser. After a quiet first half, the contest burst into life following the break. The Dutch took the lead through Virgil van Dijk, who powered…
Over the past two decades, Japanese and South Korean footballers have become increasingly prominent across Europe’s top leagues. Despite that progress, Japan have yet to advance beyond the Round of 16 at a FIFA World Cup, a hurdle head coach Hajime Moriyasu has previously described as a psychological barrier for the national team. However, expectations…
Japan will head into the FIFA World Cup 2026 as Asia’s highest-ranked nation after maintaining its position at the top of the continent in the latest FIFA World Ranking released on Thursday. Meanwhile, Iran enjoyed a rise in the standings, breaking into the global top 20 ahead of the tournament. The improvement provides a timely…
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) wrapped up their final home match ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a 1-0 win over Iceland in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2026 “Together We Are Stronger”, held at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Sunday 31 May. With Japan set to begin their World Cup campaign in the United…
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President has hailed Japan’s fifth U-17 title as a ‘definitive blueprint’ for success, following their thrilling 3-2 victory over China PR in the 2026 final held at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday. The triumph marked a historic milestone for the East Asian giants, who…
