Having concluded their AFC Asian Qualifiers in June, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) are now set to fully shift gears in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 26™, which will be jointly hosted next year by the United States, Canada and Mexico. As part of their preparations, the team will tour the United States, playing a pair of friendly matches against two of the host nations: Mexico in Oakland on 6 September (Japan time: 7 September) and the USA in Columbus on 9 September (Japan time: 10 September).

Japan have struggled against Mexico in recent years, having lost four of their recent encounters and holding an overall record of one win and four defeats. The most recent meeting took place in November 2020 during a European tour, when SAMURAI BLUE fell 0–2 in a friendly held in Graz, Austria. Following that match, Head Coach MORIYASU Hajime reflected: “Mexico had the upper hand in terms of resilience in decisive moments.”

A dominant force in CONCACAF with 17 World Cup appearances, Mexico have recently regained momentum. Despite a disappointing group-stage exit at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, they bounced back by claiming their first-ever CONCACAF Nations League title in March this year. They then went on to retain their crown at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, held between June and July.

At the helm of this rejuvenated side is Javier AGUIRRE, who managed the SAMURAI BLUE for a brief period starting in July 2014. Appointed to lead Mexico for a third time in July last year, he is now supported by Rafael MARQUEZ—a Mexican football legend with five World Cup appearances—who serves as assistant coach.

Among Mexico’s many talented players, one to watch is 34-year-old striker Raul JIMENEZ (Fulham FC, England), who scored numerous goals across the aforementioned CONCACAF tournaments. A seasoned forward with both physical strength and sharp movement, he remains a constant threat up front. In midfield, Edson ALVAREZ (Fenerbahce, Turkey)—named Best Player of the Gold Cup—exerts control and composure. At the back, Cesar MONTES (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), who played a key role in Mexico’s bronze-medal-winning Tokyo Olympics campaign, brings solidity to the defence. Meanwhile, Luis MALAGON (Club America), who earned the Best Goalkeeper award at the Gold Cup, has taken over the number one spot from long-time stalwart Guillermo OCHOA and now anchors the team from the back.

Reflecting on their meeting five years ago, then-captain YOSHIDA Maya noted: “They were excellent at keeping possession, and their game management after taking the lead was of a very high standard.” Facing such a tactically astute side, it will be intriguing to see how the SAMURAI BLUE respond. Although the match will be played at a neutral venue, a heavily pro-Mexico crowd is expected—creating a true “away” atmosphere. Allowing Mexico an early lead could prove costly, and Japan will need to be at their sharpest from the outset.

Results of last 5 matches
*All matches were played in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA
(○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

*Invited guest

Record against Japan

1 win 4 losses (9 goals, 5 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: 17

1930　Group stage
1934　Eliminated in the qualifier
1938　Did not participate
1950　Group stage (1st Round)
1954　Group stage
1958　Group stage
1962　Group stage
1966　Group stage
1970　Quarterfinals
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Group stage (1st Round)
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Quarterfinals
1990　Did not participate
1994　Round of 16
1998　Round of 16
2002　Round of 16
2006　Round of 16
2010　Round of 16
2014　Round of 16
2018　Round of 16
2022　Group stage

Data on the opposing country

◇FIFA Rankings (as of 3 April 2025): 17th
◇Record against Japan: 1 win 4 losses (9 goals, 5 against)

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