Japan claimed a historic first-ever victory over England with a composed 1-0 win at Wembley, as Kaoru Mitoma scored the decisive goal in an international friendly on Tuesday.
The Samurai Blue finally broke their winless run against England—having previously recorded two defeats and a draw—thanks to Mitoma’s clinical early strike in a World Cup warm-up encounter. It was also England’s first defeat to an Asian nation in 11 matches.
Under the guidance of Hajime Moriyasu, Japan delivered a disciplined and assured performance that highlighted their growing stature on the global stage. Their display was cheered on by a vocal contingent of travelling supporters at Wembley.
Ranked 18th in the world, Japan extended their impressive run to five consecutive victories, building on notable wins over Brazil in October and Scotland just days earlier. Having reached the last 16 in four of the previous six World Cups, they are now targeting a maiden quarter-final appearance at the 2026 tournament in North America.
For England, however, the defeat raised fresh concerns. In their final home fixture before the World Cup, Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled to find rhythm or cutting edge, following a disappointing 1-1 draw against Uruguay last week.
With several fringe players hoping to secure a place in the final 26-man squad, the performance did little to strengthen their case. Phil Foden endured another difficult outing, deployed as a makeshift striker in the absence of captain Harry Kane, who missed the match due to a minor injury.
England’s lack of cohesion was evident throughout, with players such as Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, and Kobbie Mainoo unable to make a meaningful impact.
Japan’s winning moment came in the 23rd minute following a swift counter-attack. Mitoma seized on a loose pass before linking up with Keito Nakamura, who advanced down the left flank. The Brighton winger then continued his run into the penalty area and finished clinically from close range.
England’s best chance arrived when Anthony Gordon set up Elliot Anderson, whose curling effort forced a fine save from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Despite several substitutions in the second half, England failed to improve, with Tuchel visibly frustrated as his side struggled to create clear opportunities. Boos from the home crowd reflected growing dissatisfaction, particularly as the team prepares for the World Cup.
England will now turn their attention to upcoming friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in Florida before opening their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June. Meanwhile, Japan leave Wembley with renewed confidence, their landmark victory serving as a statement of intent ahead of the tournament.
