Japan delivered one of their best performances of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Tunisia 4-0 in a dominant Group F encounter at Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe in Mexico on Sunday.
The Japanese side started the match brightly and wasted little time in taking the lead. Just four minutes into the game, Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after receiving a fine pass from Junya Ito.
Kamada calmly placed his effort beyond the Tunisian goalkeeper to give Japan an early advantage.
The early goal unsettled Tunisia, while Japan grew in confidence and continued to control possession.
Their quick passing and movement caused problems for the Tunisian defence, which struggled to cope with the pace of the Japanese attack.
Japan’s pressure paid off again in the 31st minute when Ayase Ueda doubled the lead.
Keito Nakamura provided the assist with an intelligent pass that split the defence, allowing Ueda to finish confidently and put his side firmly in control of the contest.
Leading 2-0 at halftime, Japan returned for the second half with the same attacking intent.
Tunisia attempted to respond and enjoyed brief periods of possession, but they found it difficult to break through Japan’s organised defence.
Japan continued to threaten on the counterattack and nearly added a third goal on several occasions before eventually doing so in the 69th minute.
This time, Kamada turned provider as he set up Junya Ito, who made no mistake with a composed finish to extend the lead to 3-0.
The third goal effectively ended any hopes of a Tunisian comeback as Japan maintained their dominance across the pitch.
Their midfield dictated the tempo, while the forwards remained dangerous whenever they moved forward.
Ayase Ueda completed the scoring in the 84th minute with his second goal of the night. Ritsu Doan supplied the assist with a well-delivered pass, and Ueda finished clinically to make it 4-0 and cap an impressive personal performance.
The victory highlighted Japan’s strength as a team, with their attack showing efficiency and their defence remaining solid throughout the match.
The combination of Kamada, Ito and Ueda proved especially effective, contributing all four goals and three assists between them.
For Tunisia, it was a difficult evening as they struggled to match Japan’s intensity and quality.
In spite of showing determination, they lacked the cutting edge needed to trouble the Japanese defence and were punished for defensive lapses.
The convincing win gives Japan a major boost in Group F and strengthens their chances of advancing to the knockout stage, while Tunisia will need a strong response in their next match to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
