Japan vs Iceland: Samurai Blue’s final home test before this year’s main tournament
On May 31, Japan will face Iceland in a friendly Kirin Challenge Cup 2026 match at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. 1xBet review is going to tell you what to expect from the game and what key points our team’s fans should pay attention to.
What’s important for Japan
The key question is which players Hajime Moriyasu will use in the last phase of preparations for the No. 1 football tournament. The squad has a solid core, but certain positions still need to be assessed, particularly given the injuries and the condition of the players who have recently returned to the team.
Particular attention will be focused on Takehiro Tomiyasu. The defender has been called up again after an almost 2-year absence from the national team, and the match against Iceland could serve as an important test of his form. If Tomiyasu is ready to play with no restrictions, Hajime Moriyasu will have a more flexible option in the center-back trio and in the initial stages of building attacks.
The situation on the flanks is no less important. Kaoru Mitoma is unavailable due to injury, so Moriyasu needs to assess his alternative options. Depending on the tactical plan and the coaching staff’s objectives, the wing positions could be filled by Keito Nakamura, Daizen Maeda, Ritsu Dōan, Junya Itō, or Takefusa Kubo.
Iceland: real test of strength
1xBet analysts note: Iceland are traveling to Tokyo not with their optimum squad, as the coaching staff have been unable to call up all their strongest players due to schedule constraints. But even with a few experimental positional changes, they are still a useful opponent for Japan. Iceland know how to push hard, are dangerous from set pieces, are strong at winning the ball back, and can create pressure inside the penalty area. Moriyasu’s men may well face similar situations in America.
Even without some of their leaders, Iceland still have enough experienced players. The most important are Aron Einar Gunnarsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, and Hörður Björgvin Magnússon, who bring reliability to the midfield and defense. For the other players, the trip to Tokyo will be a chance to cement their spot in the national team, so the visitors’ coaching staff will also gain valuable information ahead of their next matches.
What to expect
The H2H history favors Japan: the teams have met three times, with the Samurai Blue winning on each occasion. The last match took place in February 2012 in Osaka and ended in a 3-1 victory for our national team. Before that, Japan had beaten Iceland in 2004 in Manchester and in 1971 in Reykjavík.
But right now, the statistics from past matches aren’t the main concern. Japan need the game in Tokyo for more practical reasons: to assess the immediate reserves, test options on the flanks, and evaluate the readiness of players capable of strengthening our team. For Moriyasu, it’s not just the score that matters. The coach wants to see how his players cope with physical challenges, set pieces, and a tight defense.
Iceland will surely try to make the game a physical affair through tackling, set pieces, and fighting hard for second balls. It’s vital for Japan not to let their opponents slow the pace down, to play it safe when losing possession, and to win the ball back quickly in midfield. If the Samurai Blue can dominate second balls and quickly shift their attacks out to the wings, their speed advantage should prove decisive.
Support the Samurai Blue in their last home match before the big tournament and follow our national team’s performances with 1xBet サッカー.
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