Japan national football team defeats Venezuela 2-1

The Japan national football team secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Venezuela in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2026. Ayase Ueda led the offensive effort, scoring both an equalizer and a decisive penalty in the second half.

Goalkeeper Leo Brian Kokubo made his senior international debut, playing the first 45 minutes and keeping a clean sheet before being substituted for Zion Suzuki. Manager Hajime Moriyasu explained the substitution was part of a tactical plan to manage player rotations and competition, noting that the team had already used one substitution due to an early injury to Mitsuki Kumasaka.

The match served as a testing ground for several new players, including Shuto Nakano and Shunsuke Saito. While the victory provides momentum, some analysts noted concerns regarding squad depth and the tactical decision to exhaust substitution limits, which left the team playing with ten men late in the game after defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe was unable to continue due to injury.