Japan secures World Cup warm-up victory over Iceland in Tokyo
Kohei Ogawa’s second-half goal lifts Japan to a 1-0 win in the final preparatory fixture before the North American World Cup campaign.
The Japan national football team has secured a 1-0 victory over Iceland in a warm-up match for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, played in Tokyo on the evening of May 31. The decisive moment came in the 41st minute of the second half, when Kohei Ogawa scored the winning goal to close out the fixture.
This result marks the final preparation game for the squad ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted across North America. Japan’s group stage campaign is set to begin with a match against the Netherlands, following this conclusive warm-up session.
The match served as a critical checkpoint for the national side as they finalise their roster. Previous reports indicated that the 26-man squad was nearly complete, with notable players such as Takefusa Kubo joining the training camp. However, conflicting information has emerged regarding the final selection, with some sources suggesting Kubo was excluded from the official 26-man list alongside other players such as Keisuke Honda and Minamino.
Weather conditions posed a potential logistical challenge in the lead-up to the fixture. The Japan Meteorological Agency had forecast Typhoon No. 6 to approach Okinawa and the Amami Islands between May 1 and 2, with heavy rain expected across Kyushu, Kanto, and Chubu regions. Additionally, severe heat was predicted in widespread areas, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees Celsius on May 30.
Despite the environmental factors and squad uncertainties, the team delivered a clean sheet in Tokyo. The victory provides a definitive baseline for Japan as they transition from preparation to competition in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
