Japan defeated Tunisia 4-0 in their World Cup match, with Ayase Ueda scoring twice. This victory positions Japan alongside the Netherlands at the top of Group F, while Tunisia is eliminated from knockout contention.
Key points
Japan won 4-0 against Tunisia
Ayase Ueda scored two goals
Japan is tied with the Netherlands at the top of Group F
Tunisia is eliminated from the tournament
This match marked the 1,000th game in World Cup history
Mentioned in this story
Ayase UedaDaichi KamadaJunya Ito
World Cup 2026JapanTunisia
Japan marked the 1,000th game in the history of the World Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Tunisia on Saturday, to close in on a place in the last 32.
Ayase Ueda scored twice while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito were also on target as the Asian giants joined the Netherlands on four points at the top of Group F.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Tunisia v Japan - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 20, 2026 Japan's Junya Ito celebrates scoring their third goal with Japan's Ayase Ueda and Japan's Daichi Kamada REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
Japan’s Junya Ito celebrates scoring their third goal with Ayase Ueda (left) and Daichi Kamada [Daniel Becerril/Reuters]
The Blue Samurai, who held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw in their Group F opener, were always in control against Tunisia at the Monterrey Stadium.
The result marked a losing start for new Tunisia manager Herve Renard, who was hastily appointed to take over the World Cup campaign after predecessor Sabri Lamouchi was sacked in the wake of the Sweden drubbing.
But Renard’s team never looked like threatening a technically superior Japanese side that were quickly into their trademark, smooth passing game.
Q&A
What was the score of the Japan vs Tunisia World Cup match?
Japan won the match against Tunisia with a score of 4-0.
Who scored the goals for Japan in the match against Tunisia?
Ayase Ueda scored two goals, while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito each scored one goal.
What does Japan's victory mean for Tunisia in the World Cup?
Tunisia is eliminated from the knockout rounds of the World Cup following their defeat to Japan.
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Japan's midfielder #15 Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the 2026 World Cup Group F football match between Tunisia and Japan at the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe, Mexico, on June 20, 2026. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR / AFP)
Japan’s midfielder #15 Daichi Kamada celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal [Julio Cesar Aguilar/AFP]
Daichi Kamada opened the scoring after just four minutes, finishing from close range after deft interplay from Ao Tanaka and Keito Nakamura.
The Japanese almost scored again moments later, with only a desperate goalline clearance from Dylan Bronn denying the Asian giants a second goal.
Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was also working overtime, and had to claw away a shot that just went agonisingly short of crossing the goal line.
Japan, though, finally added to their tally in the 31st minute, with striker Ueda taking advantage of some hesitant Tunisian defending to surge forward and thunder a low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
The rout continued in the second half, with Junya Ito latching onto a brilliant through ball to calmly finish on 69 minutes before Ueda scored again with a looping header in the 83rd minute.
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group F - Tunisia v Japan - Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico - June 20, 2026 Tunisia's Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Tunisia's Montassar Talbi, Tunisia's Dylan Bronn and Tunisia's Mouhib Chamakh look dejected after the match REUTERS/Daniel Becerril
After suffering their second defeat of the tou [Daniel Becerril/Reuters]
