Japan secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Tunisia in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F opener on Monday, with goals from Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo, and Ayase Ueda. The win places Japan at the top of the group with three points, while Tunisia sits at the bottom after a disappointing start.
First Half Dominance
Japan took control early, with Minamino opening the scoring in the 12th minute after a swift counter-attack. The midfielder slotted the ball past Tunisian goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said after a precise pass from Kubo. Japan doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Kubo curled a free-kick into the top corner, leaving Ben Said with no chance.
Tunisia struggled to create chances, with their only real opportunity in the first half coming from a long-range effort by captain Wahbi Khazri, which was comfortably saved by Japan's goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
Second Half Drama
Japan continued to dominate after the break, and Ueda made it 3-0 in the 58th minute, heading home from a corner kick. Tunisia pulled one back in the 74th minute through Khazri, who slotted home after a defensive mix-up in the Japanese box. However, the comeback was short-lived as Japan held firm to secure the win.
According to FIFA statistics, Japan had 62% possession and registered 14 shots on goal, compared to Tunisia's 8. The victory marks Japan's first World Cup win since their 2-1 triumph over Germany in 2022.
Group F Implications
With this result, Japan leads Group F, while Tunisia must regroup ahead of their next match against the group's other contenders. The win boosts Japan's hopes of advancing to the knockout stages for the fourth time in their history.
