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🇹🇳 Tunisia vs 🇯🇵 Japan

Group Stage — Group F — Sunday 21 June 2026 at 04:00 UTC

📍 Estadio BBVA, Monterrey

💬 What to say about this match

Match talking points will appear here before kick-off.

Team Talking Points

🇹🇳
Tunisia
Group F
🇯🇵
Japan
Group F
  • 1
    Japan beat Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup. Both of those teams are in this tournament. Nobody wants to be drawn against Japan right now, and with good reason.
  • 2
    The secret to Japan is extreme organisation and collective discipline. They don't have a Mbappé or a Messi, but they press as a unit, defend as a unit, and create chaos by doing sensible things exceptionally well. It's slightly maddening to watch if you're not a Japan fan.
  • 3
    Most of Japan's squad now plays in Europe's top leagues — the era of Japanese players only going to the J-League is genuinely over. The quality on show reflects the fact that these are players competing at the highest level every week.
  • 4
    Japan are in Group F with Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. Netherlands are strong favourites to top the group. Japan beating them would surprise absolutely nobody who watched 2022, and is a very realistic outcome.
  • 5
    Manager Hajime Moriyasu survived enormous pressure after early exits, stayed calm, and is now regarded as one of the best international managers in Asia. He's earned the right to look quietly confident.