Japan 1-0 Iceland: Samurai Blue Extend Unbeaten Run With Last-Gasp Friendly Win

Japan beat Iceland

Japan edged Iceland 1-0 in their final World Cup warm-up thanks to Ogawa’s late goal. Iceland remain winless in five and next face world champions Argentina.

Substitute Koki Ogawa netted late to give Japan a win over Iceland. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in seven since September and face the Netherlands on June 14 in Texas...

Koki Ogawa’s 87th-minute goal gave Japan a 1-0 win over Iceland in their final World Cup warm-up. The victory in Tokyo was Japan’s sixth straight and their third win in three meetings with Iceland. The match also served as a farewell for veteran defender Maya Yoshida.

Japan started sluggishly in the heat. Zion Suzuki had to make an early stop from Dagur Thorhallsson, and Maya Yoshida left the field injured in the 14th minute. With Iceland offering little going forward, Hajime Moriyasu’s side grew into the game before halftime. They looked most dangerous down the left - Keito Nakamura curled wide early, then saw a header from a Takefusa Kubo cross pushed over by Hakon Valdimarsson later in the half.

Japan pushed harder after the break, but Hákon Valdimarsson kept them out again. He made a brave save to deny Ko Itakura from six yards after Yukinari Sugawara’s corner. Japan kept pressing despite only sporadic chances late on, and Ogawa finally broke through. The substitute headed home Sugawara’s cross with three minutes left to beat a frustrated Valdimarsson.

🔹試合終了🔹️

🏆キリンチャレンジカップ2026 ひとつになるから強くなる。
🇯🇵SAMURAI BLUE 1-0 アイスランド代表🇮🇸

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— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) May 31, 2026

The Tokyo win extended Japan’s unbeaten run to seven games since September, and it was their fifth straight clean sheet. Next for Hajime Moriyasu’s team is their World Cup Group F opener vs the Netherlands on June 14 in Texas. For Iceland, who failed to qualify for the World Cup, it’s five games without a win. They face world champions Argentina next.