Japan edged Iceland 1-0 in a tightly contested send‑off match, with Koki Ogawa finding the net in the 87th minute to seal the win.
A tactical experiment
The victory was overshadowed by a tactical experiment from manager Hajime Moriyasu, who made 11 substitutions and used the occasion to honour former captain Maya Yoshida, who returned to the pitch for the first time since the last tournament.
The match also served as a showcase for several players fighting for a spot in the final squad, including Wataru Endo, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ko Itakura, who started to prove their fitness.
Among the emerging talents, Takefusa Kubo pledged to improve on previous performances and aims to help Japan lift the trophy, while Keito Nakamura and Logi Tomasson featured in the lineup as part of the broader preparation.
Veterans Yuto Nagatomo and Yukinari Sugawara, though not starting, remained part of the training group, adding depth to the squad.
Japan’s preparation will continue abroad, with a pretournament camp scheduled in Monterrey, Mexico, before the team relocates to Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States, before heading to Qatar for the World Cup.
The group stage draw places Japan in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden, and the team is set to open its campaign against the Dutch side on June 14.
With a blend of youthful vigor and experienced heads, the squad hopes to translate these preparatory steps into a strong showing on the world stage.