Japan crush Tunisia 4-0 to top World Cup group, Sweden next
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6 days · 6 summary articles
Japan crushed Tunisia 4–0 in Monterrey on Sunday, eliminating the North Africans from the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the process and leaving Sweden as Japan’s only remaining obstacle to a place in the knockout rounds.
Ayase Ueda struck twice inside the first half, Daichi Kamada added a third before the break, and Junya Ito sealed the rout in the 69th minute as Hajime Moriyasu’s side moved to the top of Group F with maximum points. Tunisia, coached by Hervé Renard in his first match since taking charge, managed just one shot on target in the entire match, a record-low performance that ended their tournament in the second round.
The result marked the 1,000th match in World Cup history and the first time Japan have won by four goals at the tournament. Tunisia’s goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen denied Japan a fifth shortly before half-time with a fingertip stop that kept the scoreline at 2–0, but the damage was already done. “The players showed incredible focus and efficiency,” Moriyasu said after the match. “We knew Tunisia would be dangerous on the counter, but we controlled the game from the start.”
Tunisia’s elimination was sealed before the final whistle, and Sweden now face Japan in Monterrey on Friday with the chance to overtake the Asian champions and claim the group’s automatic spot. “We have to respect Japan,” Sweden coach Janne Andersson said. “They played very well, but we believe we can beat them.”
The rout exposed Tunisia’s defensive frailties and the limited impact of Renard’s brief tenure. Despite his arrival after the opening defeat to Sweden, the team produced no clear chances and registered zero shots on target. “It’s a heavy defeat,” Renard admitted. “We tried to adjust, but Japan were simply too strong.”
Japan’s next opponent, Sweden, will need a victory to secure their place in the last 16, while Costa Rica, already eliminated, face a dead rubber against Tunisia on Thursday. The result leaves Group F finely poised, with Japan top, Sweden second, and Costa Rica and Tunisia already out.
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