Japan vs Iceland Preview, Prediction & Lineups — Pre-WC Friendly

Japan are on a five-match winning streak heading into their final pre-World Cup friendly against Iceland at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday, 31 May 2026 — a run that started last October with a stunning 3-2 comeback victory over Brazil and has since included away wins at both Scotland and England. Japan beat England 1-0 at Wembley on March 31 after defeating Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park three days earlier — it was also the last time Japan conceded a goal.

Despite the momentum, Moriyasu’s side has been dealt a massive blow with star wingers Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino both ruled out of the tournament due to injury, making tonight’s send-off match a final opportunity to establish who steps up in their absence. Iceland, not qualified for the World Cup, arrive with something to prove — but carry the weight of 11 goals conceded in their last five matches.

Japan vs Iceland Match Details

Japan arrive at World Cup 2026 as giant-killers — with Kubo, Mitoma, and tactical discipline, the Samurai Blue have targeted a historic quarter-final breakthrough as their ambition for the tournament. With a full house expected at Japan National Stadium, tonight serves as the nation’s official farewell — every goal, every save, and every performance will be carried by the crowd into the tournament.

Japan Form Guide — Last 5 Matches

Japan’s five-match winning streak is the finest sustained run of results in the Moriyasu era — beating Brazil 3-2 in a comeback that shook the football world, before three away wins in Europe confirmed the Samurai Blue as a genuine tournament threat.

The win over Brazil in October was the last time Japan conceded a goal — since then, Moriyasu’s side has kept four consecutive clean sheets against high-quality opposition, culminating in the away victories over Scotland and England in March. Stepping up to fill the void left by the injured Mitoma and Minamino will be Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo — one of the most lethal wingers in Europe — and Keito Nakamura, who has scored 10 goals in just 24 caps since making his debut in 2023.

Iceland Form Guide — Last 5 Matches

Iceland have been in inconsistent form recently — winning just one of their last five matches at a 20% win rate, scoring eight goals but conceding eleven, with defensive frailties proving a persistent concern at an average of 2.2 goals conceded per game.

Iceland finished third in their UEFA World Cup qualifying group behind France and Ukraine, collecting just seven points from six matches — two wins, one draw, and three losses. The 0-4 defeat to Mexico in February 2026 was their heaviest loss of the cycle and raised serious questions about Gunnlaugsson’s defensive organisation. Far from home and facing a Japan side in the form of their lives, Iceland will need a vastly improved performance to compete at Japan National Stadium tonight.

Japan vs Iceland Head to Head Record

This is the first-ever senior international meeting between Japan and Iceland — two nations from different confederations who have never previously been drawn together in any competitive or friendly fixture.

Japan arrive as one of the most in-form nations in world football heading into this match, while Iceland are ranked approximately 60 places below the Samurai Blue in the FIFA world rankings. The absence of head-to-head history between the two nations makes tonight a genuinely fresh chapter — but the form guide tells a very clear story about which side holds the advantage.

Japan vs Iceland Predicted Lineups

Japan’s predicted starting XI uses a 3-4-3 shape: Zion Suzuki; Tomiyasu, Itakura, Machida; Suzuki, Endo, Tanaka, Kamada; Nakamura, Doan, Kubo. Gunnlaugsson is expected to line up Iceland in a compact 4-4-2, relying on physicality and set-piece threat to stay competitive against Japan’s organised press.

Japan Predicted XI (3-4-3): Zion Suzuki (GK) | Takehiro Tomiyasu (RCB) | Ko Itakura (CB) | Miki Machida (LCB) | Junya Ito (RWB) | Wataru Endo (CDM) | Hidemasa Morita (CM) | Yuta Nakayama (LWB) | Takefusa Kubo (RW) | Ayase Ueda (ST) | Ritsu Doan (LW)

Iceland Predicted XI (4-4-2): Håkon Valdimarsson (GK) | Logi Tomasson (RB) | Sverrir Ingi Ingason (CB) | Daniel Gretarsson (CB) | Hordur Magnusson (LB) | Isak Bergmann Jóhannsson (RM) | Viktor Palsson (CM) | Hákon Arnar Haraldsson (CM) | Arnor Ingvi Traustason (LM) | Albert Gudmundsson (ST) | Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (ST)

Moriyasu has masterminded back-to-back away wins against Scotland and England in the final international fixtures before naming his tournament squad — and tonight he will be looking to see Japan’s new-look attacking line run smoothly without Mitoma and Minamino. For Iceland, Brentford goalkeeper Håkon Valdimarsson is their most consistent performer and will face a serious examination against Japan’s fluid 3-4-3 attack. Lineups are predicted and subject to change. Confirmed XIs are usually released 60 minutes before kickoff. See all pre-World Cup 2026 friendlies.

Key Players to Watch

Takefusa Kubo — Japan

Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo remains one of the most lethal wingers in Europe and is capable of making a difference on his own — stepping into the void left by the absent Mitoma as Japan’s primary creative outlet. Kubo was one of the standout performers of Japan’s stunning comeback against Brazil in October, and has been central to Moriyasu’s high-press system throughout the qualifying cycle. Against Iceland’s relatively unstructured defensive shape, Kubo will find the space to drive at defenders and create overloads — and a goal tonight in front of a packed Japan National Stadium would be the perfect send-off for both player and nation. See our full Japan World Cup 2026.

Albert Gudmundsson — Iceland

Albert Gudmundsson is Iceland’s most technically gifted player and the one most capable of producing a moment of genuine quality against Japan’s elite defensive structure. The striker’s technical ability in tight spaces, his close control, and his eye for goal make him the greatest single threat Iceland carry into this match. If Iceland are to achieve anything at Japan National Stadium tonight, it will almost certainly involve Gudmundsson — the one player in Gunnlaugsson’s squad who operates at a level comparable to the top European league standard that Japan’s squad routinely plays at.

Japan vs Iceland — Tactical Preview

Moriyasu’s 3-4-3 relies on Wataru Endo’s ball-winning authority from deep, the width provided by Ito and Nakayama as wingbacks, and the creativity of Kubo cutting inside from the right flank to combine with Ueda and Doan. Japan arrive at the World Cup with tactical discipline as their defining characteristic — Moriyasu’s system is designed to press high, win the ball in advanced areas, and transition through technically gifted wide players into a compact and clinical final third. Iceland’s 4-4-2 will attempt to sit deep in the first half, limit Japan’s space in behind, and rely on set-piece delivery and Gudmundsson’s individual ability to threaten on the counter.

Iceland’s defensive frailty — conceding 11 goals in their last five matches — makes it extremely unlikely that Gunnlaugsson’s compact block will survive Japan’s relentless pressing for a full 90 minutes in front of a capacity home crowd. The key tactical question for Moriyasu is whether Keito Nakamura or Daichi Kamada best fills the creative gap left by Minamino — tonight’s answer will shape Japan’s World Cup attacking rotation against Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden.

Japan vs Iceland Prediction

Japan are overwhelming favourites — on a five-match winning streak with four consecutive clean sheets, playing at home in front of 68,000 passionate supporters, and carrying a level of form that has seen them beat Brazil, Scotland, and England in their last three serious tests. Iceland have won only one of their last five matches and concede at a rate of 2.2 goals per game — a defensive record that is completely incompatible with containing Japan’s fluid, high-energy 3-4-3.

Moriyasu will use this match to fine-tune his attacking combinations without Mitoma and Minamino, and the depth of Japan’s squad means the quality will not drop regardless of who starts or rotates. A convincing home win, a clean sheet, and momentum confirmed heading into the tournament opener against the Netherlands on June 14 — that is the ideal outcome Japan’s manager is chasing.

Our Prediction: Japan 3–0 Iceland

Takefusa Kubo is the standout goalscorer pick — the Real Sociedad winger has been Japan’s most clinical attacking player in the absence of Mitoma and carries the burden of expectation from a capacity Tokyo crowd. Keito Nakamura is an excellent second option given his 10 goals in 24 caps — a remarkably prolific international record — while Ayase Ueda’s penalty-box presence makes him a consistent anytime scorer threat.

How to Watch Japan vs Iceland Live

Japanese fans can watch live on NHK, Fuji TV, or TV Asahi — all of whom hold national broadcast rights for the Samurai Blue’s pre-tournament send-off. The match is scheduled with a 19:25 JST kickoff at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on May 31, with international viewers able to follow through DAZN global or local broadcast listings. Icelandic fans can watch on RÚV, the national broadcaster. For the full worldwide broadcaster list and kickoff times in your timezone, see our complete Japan vs Iceland live stream guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check: Japan vs Iceland Live Score