Japan beats Iceland in World Cup elimination after Ogawa’s late header

Japan recorded a late 1-0 victory over Iceland in Tokyo on Sunday through Koki Ogawa’s 87th-minute header, while Hajime Moriyasu’s side ended their home preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a barely deserved victory.

Ogawa was one of 11 substitutions made by Moriyasu in a match that had the feel of a testimonial with Maya Yoshida, giving him a final appearance for the Samurai Blue almost four years after his previous match for Japan.

The 37-year-old left the field in the 13th minute for a guard of honor and passed the captaincy to Wataru Endo, the Liverpool man returning to the line-up after several months on the sidelines in an injury-hit season.

Yoshida had started in a backline with Takehiro Tomiyasu for the first time in almost two years, as the former Arsenal defender continued to build his fitness ahead of Japan’s World Cup opener against the Netherlands on June 14.

The Japanese threatened in the early exchanges, with Keito ‌Nakamura sliding his effort from the left across the face of the Icelandic goal.

But Logi Tomasson almost caught the hosts out in the 30th minute when he fired a first-time left-foot shot towards goal from 25 yards out, only for the ball to deflect away from Zion Suzuki’s left post.

Takefusa Kubo’s long-range effort was collected by Hakon Valdimarsson, who shortly afterwards tipped Nakamura’s header over the crossbar as Japan pressed for the opener.

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Suzuki flung himself to his right to keep out Dagur Dan Thorhallsson’s effort late in the half, while Valdimarsson collected Tomiyasu’s strike at the second attempt in stoppage time.

Ko Itakura was denied by Valdimarsson six minutes after the restart and Ogawa bent his effort wide of the post in the 62nd minute as Japan tried to force their way through the Icelandic defence.

With three minutes to go, Ogawa pounced, nodded a Yukinari Sugawara cross from the right past Valdimarsson and beat the goalkeeper via the inside of the post.

Japan will participate in the World Cup for the eighth time in a row and will compete against the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden in the group stage.

Published on May 31, 2026