Japan edge Iceland 1–0 as World Cup awaits

Japan head into the 2026 World Cup on a winning note after edging Iceland 1–0 in an international friendly. Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Wataru Endo, and Daichi Kamada all featured as the Samurai Blue put in a controlled performance ahead of the tournament in North America. The victory caps a period of strong momentum built from a dominant Asian qualifying campaign, with this Japan squad widely regarded as the nation's most talented generation yet. The real test now is whether that quality translates into the deepest World Cup run in Japanese history.