Japan secured a 4-0 victory over Tunisia in a Group F match at the 2026 World Cup, moving closer to the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive tournament. The game, held in Monterrey, Mexico, marked the 1,000th men’s match in World Cup history. Japan’s performance set a new record for the most goals they have scored in a single World Cup game.

Ayase Ueda led the scoring with two goals, while Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito each contributed one. Kamada’s goal came in the fourth minute, the fastest ever scored by Japan in a World Cup match. Japan dominated the game from the start and remained aggressive throughout, continuing to pressure Tunisia even after establishing a two-goal lead in the first half.

Tunisia, who recently appointed Hervé Renard, a two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner, as head coach following the dismissal of their previous coach after the opening match, struggled to contain Japan’s attacking play and failed to generate significant scoring opportunities. The loss resulted in Tunisia’s elimination from the tournament.

With the win, Japan moved level on points with the Netherlands, both holding four points in Group F. However, the Dutch team currently leads the group due to a superior goal difference, having scored one more goal across their two matches. Japan is assured of finishing at least third in the group, which could still be enough to advance depending on the outcomes of remaining matches.

Japan’s coach, Hajime Moriyasu, the first to lead the team at consecutive World Cups, emphasized the team’s focus on maintaining attacking momentum and scoring as many goals as possible to build confidence heading into their match against Sweden.

The decisive win demonstrated Japan’s offensive capability and highlighted Tunisia’s challenges in adjusting to new coaching leadership under high-pressure circumstances as the tournament progresses.