Japan 3-1 Uruguay — Kuryu Matsuki and Kento Shiogai score on their big nights as Japan open the post-World Cup era with a win [Kirin Challenge Cup 2026]
2026-09-24
Kirin Challenge Cup 2026: Japan hosted Uruguay and came away with a 3-1 win.
Japan's first match since the World Cup belonged to the new faces: debutant Kuryu Matsuki opened the scoring from right wing-back, and substitute Kento Shiogai won it in stoppage time with his first international goal.
Japan beat Uruguay 3-1 as two new faces score their first international goals
In front of 44,070 at Q&A Stadium Miyagi, Japan beat Uruguay 3-1 in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2026. It was Hajime Moriyasu's first match since the World Cup in North America, and it was a debutant who set the tone: Kuryu Matsuki put Japan ahead after 11 minutes. Maxi Araújo equalised three minutes before the break, but substitute Kento Shiogai struck in second-half stoppage time and Ayase Ueda added a third. Japan rested many of their World Cup regulars and still won while testing new players. For Uruguay, in their first match under interim coach Diego Forlán, it was another defeat after their group-stage exit at the World Cup.
Line-ups — Japan's 3-4-2-1 full of new faces, Uruguay in a 4-4-2
Moriyasu stayed with the 3-4-2-1 he used at the World Cup. Tomoki Hayakawa started in goal behind a back three of Hiroki Ito, Ko Itakura and Ayumu Seko, with Seko filling in on the right after Takehiro Tomiyasu withdrew injured. Kodai Sano and Kaishu Sano — no relation — paired up in central midfield, Keito Nakamura played left wing-back and first-time call-up Kuryu Matsuki played on the right. Yuito Suzuki and Ritsu Doan were the two behind Daizen Maeda. Uruguay lined up in a 4-4-2: Santiago Mele in goal; Juan Manuel Sanabria, Mathías Olivera, Ronald Araujo and Nahitan Nández across the back; Maxi Araújo, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Torreira and Brian Rodríguez in midfield; and Federico Viñas alongside Darwin Núñez up front.
Matsuki makes his mark — the player who missed Paris 2024 scores on his senior debut
The player of the night was Matsuki, used at right wing-back. On 11 minutes he took on his man down the right, broke into space and hit a left-footed shot from outside the box into the bottom left corner — a goal on his senior debut. Normally a central midfielder, he covered the whole right flank and kept up the intensity out of possession as well. The 23-year-old came through Aomori Yamada High School and became a regular at FC Tokyo, long seen as a leader of his generation, but his move to Europe in the summer of 2024 meant he could not play at the Paris Olympics. He watched his generation compete on that stage from the outside, then built his career step by step in Turkey and England. In his first match for the national team, he delivered. Until he was replaced by Junya Ito on 64 minutes, the right side belonged to him.
Uruguay level on 42 minutes — Maxi Araújo from a tight angle
Uruguay pushed back late in the first half. On 39 minutes Hayakawa saved a Maxi Araújo header and a left-footed shot from Viñas in quick succession, but three minutes later Araújo beat him from a difficult angle on the left to make it 1-1 at half-time. Moriyasu responded at the break by sending on Daichi Kamada for Kodai Sano to settle the midfield.
Shiogai's hunger for goals decides it — a first international goal off the bench
Japan went to their bench to change the game. Ueda replaced Maeda on 63 minutes; a minute later Takefusa Kubo, Junnosuke Suzuki and Junya Ito came on for Doan, Itakura and Matsuki. Yuki Soma and Ao Tanaka followed on 77 minutes, and on 83 minutes Shiogai replaced Nakamura. The game was still level in stoppage time when Shiogai settled it: he ran onto Kamada's pass and kept his composure one-on-one with the goalkeeper to put Japan ahead — his first goal for his country at the age of 21. Shiogai is a striker who thinks only about scoring and never hesitates in the decisive moment, and around ten minutes after coming on, that hunger paid off. In the sixth minute of stoppage time Ueda added a third from Ito's pass, his 19th international goal, to finish the game 3-1.
Next up — Venezuela in Hiroshima, then Ecuador in the Kirin Cup semi-final
Japan face Venezuela at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on 28 September, then play Ecuador in the Kirin Cup 2026 semi-final at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama on 1 October. The question now is how far Matsuki and Shiogai can move up the pecking order. As starts to a new World Cup cycle go, this was a good one. Uruguay travel to Seoul to face South Korea on 28 September.
See the Japan vs Venezuela predicted lineupsVenue: Q&A Stadium Miyagi
- Location
- Rifu, Miyagi, Japan
- Capacity
- 49,133
Miyagi Prefecture's stadium, a venue at the 2002 World Cup. This match drew 44,070.
Japan
Formation: 3-4-2-1
- GKTomoki Hayakawa
- LCBHiroki Ito
- CBKou Itakura
- RCBAyumu Seko
- LWBKeito Nakamura
- LCMKodai Sano
- RCMKaishu Sano
- RWBMatsuki
- LAMYuito Suzuki
- RAMRitsu Doan
- CFDaizen Maeda
Japan set up in a 3-4-2-1. Tomoki Hayakawa, Hiroki Ito, Kou Itakura and others were named in the starting XI.
Uruguay
Formation: 4-4-2
- GKSantiago Mele
- LSBJuan Manuel Sanabria
- LCBMathías Olivera
- RCBRonald Araújo
- RSBNahitan Nández
- LMFMaxi Araújo
- LCMFRodrigo Bentancur
- RCMFLucas Torreira
- RMFBrian Rodríguez
- LSTFederico Viñas
- RSTDarwin Núñez
Uruguay set up in a 4-4-2. Santiago Mele, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Mathías Olivera and others were named in the starting XI.
Match Summary
Kirin Challenge Cup 2026: Japan vs Uruguay finished 3-1. Japan lined up in a 3-4-2-1.