SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) will face Vietnam, Iraq and Indonesia in the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, three teams that happened to be drawn in Group F of the FIFA World Cup 26™ / AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ Preliminary Joint Qualification (the other team being the Philippines).

Vietnam are led by coach Philippe TROUSSIER, who took over in February last year. The Frenchman, who led Japan for four years from 1998 and helped them reach the round of 16 for the first time at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™, is also in charge of Vietnam's U-23 side and is looking to take the country's burgeoning football to new heights through the recruitment of young players. Packed with agile, technically gifted players, they have shown in recent years that they can compete with the likes of Japan. This was evident in the AFC qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, where Vietnam, who were making their first ever appearance in the final round, lost 0-1 at home to Japan but drew 1-1 away at Saitama Stadium 2002. The country was ranked 94th in the FIFA Ranking released on 21 December last year, the highest in Southeast Asia.

Iraq, under Spanish coach Jesus CASAS, proved their mettle by winning the Arabian Gulf Cup, a biennial competition for the eight members of the Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation, on home soil in January last year. They currently top their group after a 5-1 win over Indonesia and a 1-0 away win over Vietnam in World Cup qualifiers and have made a good start to their quest for a first World Cup appearance since the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™. They will be keen to build on that momentum and win their first Asian Cup title since 2007. They will be facing Japan for the first time since the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ AFC Qualifiers (Road to Russia). Although they lost the away leg 1-2 at Saitama Stadium in 2002, they drew 1-1 in the second leg at neutral ground in Iran. The tenacity that led to the “Agony of Doha” is still with them, as they showed in the Arabian Gulf Cup final when they beat Oman 3-2 with a late goal scored in the second half of extra time.

It has been 35 years since Indonesia and Japan last played each other in June 1989, in which Japan won 5-0 in the first round of the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™ AFC qualifiers at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium. However, Indonesia have become one of the fastest growing teams in recent years, especially since coach SHIN Tae-yong, a former Korea Republic international, took over in December 2019. The mastermind behind Seongnam FC's 2010 AFC Champions League triumph and Korea Republic's 2-0 win over Germany at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ has now guided Indonesia to their first AFC Asian Cup qualification in 17 years. Tokyo Verdy's Pratama ARHAN also played in the World Cup qualifiers, where the team had played two matches before last November, drawing one and losing one.

Vietnam National Team

Results of last 10 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

*As of 8 January 2024

Record against Japan

1 win, 1 draw, 7 losses (6 goals, 20 against)
*Including matches from the Republic of South Vietnam-era

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: None
*Achieved its independence from France in 1945

1950　Did not participate
1954　Did not participate
1958　Did not participate
1962　Did not participate
1966　Did not participate
1970　Did not participate
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Did not participate
1982　Did not participate
1986　Did not participate
1990　Did not participate
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Eliminated in the qualifier
2014　Eliminated in the qualifier
2018　Eliminated in the qualifier
2022　Eliminated in the qualifier

Iraq National Team

Results of last 10 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

*As of 8 January 2024

Record against Japan

3 wins, 3 draws, 7 losses (10 goals, 19 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: Once

1930　Did not participate
1934　Did not participate
1938　Did not participate
1950　Did not participate
1954　Did not participate
1958　Did not participate
1962　Did not participate
1966　Did not participate
1970　Did not participate
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Did not participate
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Group Stage
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Eliminated in the qualifier
2014　Eliminated in the qualifier
2018　Eliminated in the qualifier
2022　Eliminated in the qualifier

Indonesia National Team

Results of last 10 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

*As of 8 January 2024

Record against Japan

6 wins, 2 draws, 10 losses (25 goals, 39 against)
*Including matches from the Dutch East Indies-era

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: Once

1930　Did not participate
1934　Did not participate
1938　Round of 16 *As Dutch East Indies
1950　Did not participate
1954　Did not participate
1958　Did not participate
1962　Did not participate
1966　Did not participate
1970　Did not participate
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Eliminated in the qualifier
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Eliminated in the qualifier
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Eliminated in the qualifier
2014　Eliminated in the qualifier
2018　Did not participate
2022　Eliminated in the qualifier

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