Japan step onto the pitch at Estadio BBVA tonight, brimming with confidence following an impressive tournament opener.
The Samurai Blue showed genuine resilience against the Netherlands, fighting back twice to secure a 2-2 draw and preserve their strong recent World Cup record. Daichi Kamada’s late equaliser was the defining moment, and Hajime Moriyasu will have been quietly satisfied despite admitting he wanted more from the performance. Against a Tunisia side in disarray, Japan will look to control the game and take a decisive step towards the knockout rounds.
Japan team news
Moriyasu faces one notable selection headache ahead of kick-off. Takefusa Kubo sustained a knee injury against the Netherlands and was pictured leaving the stadium in a wheelchair. He has since been ruled out of this fixture, with no return date confirmed.
Yukinari Sugawara is expected to fill the void at right wing-back, a switch that allows Ritsu Doan to push higher into the attack. Doan joins Daizen Maeda and Ayase Ueda in a dynamic front three tasked with exploiting the spaces behind a Tunisian defence that was badly exposed against Sweden.
Zion Suzuki starts in goal behind a back three of Shogo Taniguchi, Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Hiroki Ito. Daichi Kamada and Kaishu Sano retain their central midfield roles, with Keito Nakamura — who scored against the Netherlands — continuing at left wing-back. Yuto Nagatomo and Takehiro Tomiyasu are among the options from the bench.
Japan predicted lineup
Japan possible starting XI: Suzuki; Taniguchi, Watanabe, H. Ito; Sugawara, Kamada, Sano, Nakamura; Doan, Maeda; Ueda
When does the match kick off?
The Group F fixture kicks off at 04:00 BST in the early hours of Sunday, 21 June 2026, at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.
How to watch Tunisia vs Japan?
UK viewers can watch the match live on BBC One, with a live stream available via BBC iPlayer.
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World Cup, World Cup 2026, Latest World Cup news, Japan, Tunisia
