Match Centre: England 0-1 Japan
- K. Mitoma (23′)
- T. Watanabe (92′)
- K. Ogawa (93′)
Thomas Tuchel's side lost 1-0 in the final match before the head coach names his FIFA World Cup squad
England v Japan
International fixture
7.45pm GMT, Tuesday 31 March 2026
Wembley Stadium
Thomas Tuchel and Elliot Anderson addressed the media on Monday morning ahead of Tuesday's game.
Here is what they had to say.
Tuchel on injury updates:
There is nothing more to add from me as a coach. I'm not a medical expert but we had an assessment after the match and none of them were able to stay and get any minutes, so we released them. They had a medical assessment, wanted desperately to play, wanted the desperately to be involved. That made just no sense to take this risk. If it would have been maybe a last game of the season, we would have kept them and tried everything but in this moment of the season, it did not make sense. And the risk for making it worse was just way too big.
On the Japan fixture:
I like the Japanese team. I like the Japanese culture, and it's an honour to play against the national team of Japan. When do you have the chance to face opponents like this? I think we have two very interesting, two very different opponents to play against. Two very different mentalities, two very different styles of play. We were excited about it to have the possibility but once you start looking deeply and you start looking into the quality and the way Japan plays, I think they have one loss in 17 matches – very, very good run of results. They're well-drilled. You see all the quality and you know that you need to be well prepared and we need to be ourselves, on our top performance to be able to win.
On the Uruguay draw:
I think we got a lot of things right, not throughout the 90 minutes but in most of the phases, we got the things right that we wanted to get right. We need to have these kinds of tests now to get to know each other better. It’s coming fast but we have still time to be prepared and if you turn it around, do you think Brazil will not be prepared in May or June? I think they will be prepared. Once you arrive in June in the US, you don't think anymore what you did in March. You play knockout football and then when it matters, we will be ready.
On his belief in the team:
I have total belief and I have total belief that if we get the selection right and we arrive with the team, this is what I feel now, again, in camp, that we're taking steps and steps and steps. Players want to be part of it, players want to stay in camp even with outlook that they don't play. They are desperate to come. They're enjoying it and I see all that and I think this is crucial, that we arrive with this kind of spirit in the US.
We're live from @SpursOfficial's training ground where Thomas Tuchel – followed by Elliot Anderson – will preview tomorrow's game against Japan 🗣️ https://t.co/7ba4lJWK8n
— England (@England) March 30, 2026
Anderson on the challenges Japan will pose:
They're a really good side. I think they've been doing really well over the past few years and they've lost one in 17, so they're definitely a good side and it's going to be a tough game, which I'm looking forward to. We've watched a bit of them in meetings and stuff, so we're definitely expecting a good side and we'll have to deal with that tomorrow. They've got definitely some dangerous players. They’ve got Mitoma out on the wing who can cause problems and they've got some top players across the leagues and they'll be a good set.
On competition for the World Cup:
We're all sort of competing with each other, but we're all really good mates within the group and there's definitely a great balance. The competitiveness is definitely there and we're really enjoying it. I've got a full season left with Forest and I've got plenty of games and there's plenty of time until then, so I've got to keep my standards high and make sure it happens. It's always a big game when you play for England and I'm looking really forward to it. As you say, it's the last game before the World Cup so I've just got to try and do what I've been doing. Obviously, we've got the World Cup this summer, so all my eyes are on that and playing for England. I've obviously got the [England] badge on now, so that's all I'm thinking about at the moment.
On the spirit of the group:
A really good group of players and really important that we're a really good group of people as well. I think the balance is really good at the moment and I'm really enjoying coming into camp and speaking to the lads and learning off what they do on the pitch so it's a really good moment.
Japan in profile
Nickname: Samurai Blue
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Captain: Wataru Endo
Match Stats
- England are unbeaten in their three games against Japan, beating them 2-1 in both June 1995 in the Umbro Cup and in a May 2010 friendly, while they shared a 1-1 draw in June 2004.
- An Asian nation has never previously beaten England in ten attempts (D4 L6) – this is England’s first game against an Asian team since a 6-2 win over IR Iran in November 2022 at the FIFA World Cup.
- England have won just two of their last seven friendly matches (D2 L3), having won 12 consecutively between 2018 and 2023 beforehand.
- England have scored in their last 21 matches in all competitions since a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at EURO 2024. It’s their longest scoring streak since a 32-game run between 1902 and 1910.
- Japan are unbeaten in in their last seven matches against European nations in all competitions (W6 D1), winning each of their last three against Germany, Türkiye and Scotland. Indeed, they’ve won four in a row twice before in May 2009 and February 2013.
- Ten of England’s last 18 goals have come via set piece situations (5x corner, 3x free-kick, 2x penalty), with 40 per cent of those being scored or assisted by Arsenal players.
- England’s Harry Kane has scored 10 goals across his last 10 international appearances, while he could score 2+ goals in successive matches for the national team for the first time since November 2021 against Albania (3) and San Marino (4).
- Japan’s Junya Ito has four goal involvements across his last three matches (one goal, three assists) and could score in successive matches for the national team for the first time since September 2023 (run of three).
Last time out: Japan 1-2 England
The Three Lions played their final warm-up game before heading out to South Africa for the World Cup
Head to head
The Three Lions have faced Japan on three occasions, winning two of those previous encounters and drawing one.
Last three meetings v Japan
Japan 1-2 England, International, 30 May 2010
Two own goals ensured England won their final warm-up game before flying out to South Africa for the 2010 World Cup, taking on Japan in Austria in the build-up to the tournament.
England 1-1 Japan, International,1 June 2004
Ahead of EURO 2004, it ended in a draw between the two teams at the City of Manchester Stadium as Michael Owen scored for the Three Lions.
England 2-1 Japan, International, 3 June 1995
England and Japan met at Wembley Stadium for their first-ever encounter over three decades ago in what was known as the Umbro Cup, with Darren Anderton and David Platt scoring the goals for the home team.
From the archive: England MU19 5-1 Japan
Tammy Abraham, Patrick Roberts, Josh Onomah and Daniel Crowley made the scoresheet for the Young Lions in 2015
England Squad News
Squad details for this game were announced on Friday 20 March, with an update to the squad for this game made on Saturday 28 March.
Ticket Information
How to watch or stream
This game will be available to watch live on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
Marc Guéhi skippers England against Japan, becoming the 129th player to captain the Three Lions.
Thomas Tuchel has named his side to face Samurai Blue ahead of tonight’s game at Wembley.
England: 1 Jordan Pickford, 2 Ezri Konsa, 3 Nico O’Reilly, 4 Elliot Anderson, 5 Marc Guéhi (c), 7 Cole Palmer, 8 Kobbie Mainoo, 9 Phil Foden, 12 Ben White, 14 Anthony Gordon, 15 Morgan Rogers
Substitutes: 6 Harry Maguire, 10 Jobe Bellingham, 11 Marcus Rashford, 13 Dean Henderson, 17 Dan Burn, 18 Dominic Solanke, 19 Harvey Barnes, 20 Jarrod Bowen, 21 James Garner, 22 James Trafford, 23 Jason Steele, 24 Djed Spence, 25 Tino Livramento, 26 Lewis Hall
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma grabbed the only goal under the lights at Wembley, with a composed finished past Jordan Pickford midway through the first half to ensure Japan became the first-ever Asian side to beat the Three Lions.
Despite enjoying much of the ball, Thomas Tuchel’s men couldn’t break the resolve of Japan’s defence, marshalled well by Zion Suzuki who pulled off a series of good saves.
The Three Lions had started on the front foot and enjoyed 80 per cent possession during the opening 15 minutes, but Japan looked dangerous going forward early on when given the chance to break.
A misunderstanding between Marc Guéhi and Pickford almost opened the door for Junya Ito in the fifth minute before the England ‘keeper cleared.
Phil Foden, playing as a centre-forward, also looked in a creative mood by linking up well with Palmer but it was Japan who landed the first blow through Mitoma.
Japan’s number seven drove downfield with the ball after Palmer was caught in possession, before producing a clinical finish to slot past Pickford after being picked out by Keito Nakamura.
Elliot Anderson almost levelled for England just after the half-hour mark, but the Nottingham Forest midfielder’s curling effort was kept out by a stunning stop by goalkeeper Suzuki.
Five minutes into the second half and Pickford made a smart save to deny Ritsu Doan.
Rogers could only find the wall with his free-kick on 65 minutes as England pressed for an equaliser, but Japan continued to make opportunities of their own as Nakamura bent his effort narrowly wide.
Harry Maguire and Dan Burn came off the bench to provide more presence from set-pieces and the Manchester United man almost made an instant impact, but his header was scrambled clear.
Lewis Hall’s fierce low drive forced Suzuki into a good, low save before Rogers then fired over the bar from close range as the goal England craved ultimately evaded them.
Substitutes: 20 Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) for Palmer 59’, 26 Lewis Hall (Newcastle United) for O’Reilly 59’, 18 Dominic Solanke (Tottenham Hotspur) for Foden 60’, 25 Tino Livramento (Newcastle United) for White 60’, 21 James Garner (Everton) for Mainoo 71’, Marcus Rashford (Barcelona) for Gordon 71’, 17 Dan Burn (Newcastle United) for Guéhi 83’, 6 Harry Maguire (Manchester United) for Konsa 83’,
Substitutes not used: 22 James Trafford (Manchester City), 23 Jason Steele (Brighton & Hove Albion), 19 Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United), 10 Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), 13 Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), 11 Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), 24 Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur),
Head coach: Thomas Tuchel
Japan: 1 Zion Suzuki, 21 Hiroki Ito, 5 Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 3 Shogo Taniguchi, 13 Keito Nakamura, 24 Kaishu Sano, 15 Daichi Kamada, 10 Ritsu Doan ©, 7 Kaoru Mitoma, 14 Junya Ito, 18 Ayase Ueda
Substitutes: 4 Ayumu Seko for J. Ito 66’, 19 Koki Ogawa for Ueda 66’, 17 Ao Tanaka for Doan 71’, 25 Junnosuke Suzuki for Mitoma 71’, 2 Yukinari Sugawara for Kamada 80’, 8 Yuito Suzuki for H. Ito 80’, 9 Shuto Machino for Nakamura 80’,
Substitutes not used: 12 Keisuke Osako, 23 Tomoki Hayakawa, 16 Daiki Hashioka, 6 Joel Chima Fujita, 20 Ryunosuke Sato, 11 Daizen Maeda, 26 Keisuke Goto, 22 Kento Shiogai,
Goals: Mitoma 23’,
Head coach: Hajime Moriyasu
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