Japan secured a historic 1-0 victory over England in a friendly at Wembley Stadium, marking their first-ever win against the Three Lions.
Kaoru Mitoma netted the decisive goal, capping a counter-attack after being handed a start by coach Hajime Moriyasu.
Despite dominating possession, England struggled to convert chances. Japan’s resilience and tactical discipline earned praise from Moriyasu.
"We showed we can beat anyone," he said, cautioning that the match could have gone either way.
The victory extends Japan’s unbeaten run since September, with recent wins over Brazil, Ghana, Bolivia, and Scotland.
Mitoma highlighted the squad's adaptability: "It’s great we could play the same way despite changes. We’ll look to score more."
Japan reached the Round of 16 in three of the last four World Cups, famously defeating Germany and Spain in 2022.
They are drawn in Group F for the 2026 World Cup in North America, facing the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden.