Japan 4-0 Tunisia: Samurai Blue Secure Historic Victory, Eliminate African Side
GUADALUPE, Mexico — Japan secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Tunisia in their second Group F match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 20 June at Estadio Monterrey. The result officially eliminated Tunisia from knockout-round contention.
Match Summary
Japan scored the fastest goal in its World Cup history at 3:27, when Daichi Kamada found the net. Ayase Ueda added goals in the 31st and 82nd minutes, and Junya Ito scored in the 69th minute. Ueda also recorded an assist during the match.
Tunisia recorded two attempts with a combined expected goals (xG) of 0.05. The match was the 1,000th in World Cup history.
Historical Milestones
- Japan’s unbeaten streak at World Cup matches extended to four (W2 D2), the longest in the nation’s history.
- Japan’s four goals are the most scored by an Asian nation in a single World Cup match.
- Ayase Ueda became the third Japanese player to record both a goal and an assist in a World Cup match. He is the second player in the 2026 tournament (alongside Cody Gakpo) to score twice and assist once in a match.
- Tunisia conceded nine goals during the tournament, its worst total at a World Cup.
Coach Change
Following a 5-1 loss to Sweden in their opening match, Tunisia dismissed manager Sabri Lamouchi. The team appointed Hervé Renard as the new manager.
Renard previously managed Saudi Arabia and the French women’s national team. This marks the fifth time a World Cup team has used more than one coach in a single edition; none of the new coaches won their first match (D3 L2).
Group Standings
Japan has four points from two matches, level with the Netherlands. The Netherlands defeated Sweden 5-1 on the same day. Japan is scheduled to face Sweden in its final group match.
Tunisia has been eliminated from the tournament, becoming the third team eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining Haiti and Türkiye.