England’s World Cup preparations took a blow in a historic 1-0 defeat by Japan on Tuesday night. The Three Lions lost to a team from Asia for the first time at a stunned Wembley, where the home side were booed off by disgruntled fans just four days after their low-key 1-1 draw with Uruguay at the same venue. It was certainly not the performance Thomas Tuchel was looking for in the final game before he names his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in May.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma started and finished a ruthless counter-attack in the first half for Japan, dispossessing Cole Palmer before then confidently slotting past Jordan Pickford. It was to prove the only goal of the friendly, with Elliot Anderson and Ayase Ueda both hitting the crossbar. Pickford and opposite number Zion Suzuki each made several saves but it was not until late on that England really rallied themselves in search of an elusive equaliser, with substitute Harry Maguire seeing a header cleared off the line.
England were rocked ahead of kick-off by an injury to captain Harry Kane that ruled him out of a squad already missing the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, with Jude Bellingham not risked off the bench. Follow England vs Japan live below!
England vs Japan highlights
- Maguire sees late header cleared off the line
- Ueda also rattles woodwork for Japan before break
- Anderson hits crossbar as England look for equaliser
- GOAL! Mitoma finishes off ruthless Japan counter-attack
- Tuchel explains shock Kane absence at Wembley
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:40 , George FloodFull-time
England lose to an Asian team for the first time ever on a really flat and worrying night at Wembley.
Kaoru Mitoma’s first-half goal the difference as Japan celebrate their maiden victory over the Three Lions.
So many questions for Tuchel as he prepares to name his World Cup squad in May - nothing worked tonight, especially not the false nine experiment with Foden.
A performance and result that only enhances the significance of the likes of Kane, Saka, Rice and Bellingham.
Some boos greet the full-time whistle.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:35 , George Flood90 mins: Four minutes of added time for England to rescue this.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:34 , George Flood89 mins: ‘Wow’ says Tuchel as Burn now connects with an England corner and the ball bounces off Rashford into the path of Rogers, who blazes over the crossbar from close range.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:32 , George Flood87 mins: Japan are clinging on now as Maguire gets his head to another corner and Hall’s fierce low drive is pushed wide by Zion Suzuki.
Where has this England effort been all night?
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:31 , George Flood84 mins: England continue to knock on the door for a late leveller at Wembley.
The corners are piling up, with another Maguire header off target.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:29 , George Flood82 mins: Almost a late England equaliser as Maguire wins a grappling contest but his header is cleared off the line by Sugawara.
Maguire is also captaining England now with Guehi off.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:27 , George Flood80 mins: Japan send on Machino, former Southampton right-back Sugawara and Yuito Suzuki for Nakamura, Kamada and Junya Ito.
Two defensive changes from England, with Burn and Maguire on for Konsa and Guehi.
Less than 10 minutes to go...
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:22 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
Hall has made a difference since coming on. He's making good runs out wide and getting into the box to commit defenders.
That's a low bar for praise but it's as good as it's getting for England right now.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:22 , George Flood74 mins: Hall has made a real impact for England since coming on.
Rashford’s low effort is shovelled away by Zion Suzuki before Bowen lashes wide on the spin.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:17 , George Flood71 mins: Into the last 20 minutes at a subdued Wembley as Rashford and Garner replace Gordon and Mainoo.
Leeds’ Ao Tanaka and Junnosuke Suzuki are on for Japan, replacing goalscorer Mitoma and captain Doan.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:15 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
England living very dangerously as Nakamura almost makes it 2-0 to Japan.
More Tuchel changes are on the way.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:14 , George Flood67 mins: Suzuki safely claims another England cross before substitute Seko quickly makes his presence felt with a heavy foul.
Almost 2-0 to Japan as Nakamura skilfully cuts inside Livramento and arrows an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:09 , George Flood64 mins: Rogers’ free-kick is headed away emphatically by a man in the Japan wall.
Hajime Moriyasu looks to his bench for the first time now as Ogawa and Seko replace Ueda and Hiroki Ito.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:08 , George Flood62 mins: Those subs have given England a much-needed injection of attacking energy and impetus as we tick past the hour mark at Wembley.
Rogers with some quick and tricky feet inside the Japan box, but his low ball is delivered too close to Suzuki.
He is then fouled and earns a free-kick in a very dangerous area.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:07 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
Fair to say Foden at false nine was not a success. Half an hour now for Solanke to provide some evidence that he should be Kane's back-up this summer.
To say that role is still wide open is an understatement.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:03 , George Flood58 mins: Tuchel has seen enough and is ringing the changes for England now - he can make 11 tonight, remember.
Hall, Livramento, Solanke and Bowen are all on, replacing Palmer, Foden, O'Reilly and White.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:01 , George Flood56 mins: Better from England as they earn successive corners and Konsa heads wide of the back post.
Hiroki Ito did just enough to put him off with a clever little nudge.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:59 , George Flood52 mins: Japan are looking far more dangerous at the moment as Doan flicks over the defender but his cross is too high for Ueda with Pickford committed.
England are all over the place at the back at times.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:58 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
A higher press from England early in this second half but no increase in their fortunes out there yet.
Wembley remains flat, the England band trying to tempt the players into life but failing at present.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:56 , George Flood52 mins: Doan is a real threat for Japan tonight as his searching cross into the England box is taken by Pickford.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:55 , George Flood50 mins: Japan are in again as O’Reilly loses out to captain Doan, whose low effort is repelled by Pickford.
England carved open once again.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:53 , George Flood47 mins: England on the front foot early in the second half as they earn a corner that Palmer delivers straight into the grateful arms of Suzuki.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:50 , George FloodBack underway at Wembley, where there have been no personnel changes from either side.
Will Tuchel change the England system?
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:46 , George FloodAnderson hit the crossbar with England’s best moment of the night so far, before Ueda did likewise for Japan...
Japan now HIT THE BAR! 🤯
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 31, 2026
Ayase Ueda nearly doubled Japan's lead v England 🇯🇵🏴#ITVFootball | @JapaneseFbl pic.twitter.com/INg84mfFYP
Anderson RATTLES the bar! 😲
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 31, 2026
England so close to an equaliser v Japan 🏴#ITVFootball | @England | @elljanderson pic.twitter.com/6KWHxg3Em6
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:41 , George FloodSuch a good goal from Japan, with Mitoma dispossessing Palmer initially, carrying the ball forward and also finishing with aplomb inside the box.
So well executed, but sloppy and sluggish from England.
No one tracking Nakamura and the ball deflected in off O’Reilly.
JAPAN TAKE THE LEAD AT WEMBLEY! 🇯🇵
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) March 31, 2026
Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma puts his side 1-0 up v England ⚽️#ITVFootball | @JapaneseFbl pic.twitter.com/ueA4FCTFAS
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:36 , George FloodHalf-time
Not a good half for England, who trail at the interval to Japan’s excellently-crafted counter-attack goal netted by Brighton’s Mitoma.
They have looked iffy at the back and the false nine experiment in Kane’s absence is not working.
Plenty for Tuchel to ponder.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:32 , George Flood45 mins: Just the one minute of added time has been signalled at the end of this first half.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:31 , George Flood43 mins: Another decent free-kick opportunity for England is wasted as Palmer’s poor delivery drifts wide of the far post.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:29 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
Far too easy to play through England at the moment. There are vast chasms at the back.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:28 , George Flood41 mins: England are totally caught out again as a simple through ball releases Ueda, who thunders against the crossbar.
He looked offside, but the flag didn’t go up. Corner.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:27 , George Flood37 mins: Foden is surrounded by blue shirts as he tries to create room for a shot from outside the box, but he’s tackled by and actually fouls Japan captain Doan.
Japan’s discipline out of possession has been very impressive so far tonight.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:23 , George Flood33 mins: A lovely chipped cross from O’Reilly in towards Manchester City team-mate Foden, who is easily beaten in the air by Watanabe.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:22 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
White is getting into some good positions on the right. With Rogers and Gordon both tucking in at times, there's very little width for England.
White, though, has been at least trying to stretch the blue shirts. No end product to go with it yet.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:20 , George Flood34 mins: A gorgeous curling effort from Anderson brushes the fingertips of Suzuki and clips the crossbar on its way over.
Great work from Gordon in the build-up there and Mainoo with a simple pass to keep the momentum going.
So close to an equaliser.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:18 , George Flood31 mins: Pickford is not happy with his defence at all as a low cross is repelled by England, but Japan keep the pressure on and Sano misses the target with a rushed effort.
Some really sluggish moments so far from Tuchel’s side.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:16 , George Flood30 mins: Palmer is barged over by a combination of Watanabe and Doan to give England a free-kick in a decent position out left.
Gordon’s lofted delivery is too close to Suzuki, who can gather.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:14 , George Flood26 mins: England try to respond after a drinks break but a very speculative long-range effort from O’Reilly is dragged well wide.
England 0-1 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:13 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
What a superb goal from Japan, and it's almost the very first shot of the game. Certainly the first chance.
The away end is bouncing now, and England must regroup.
Mitoma of Brighton is the goalscorer after a lovely, sweeping move.
Get caught out that easily at the World Cup and England's summer travels won't last long.
A first goal conceded for England by Pickford since October 2024, by the way.
GOAL! England 0-1 Japan | Kaoru Mitoma 23'
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:10 , George Flood23 mins: A lethal counter-attack from Japan and England are behind at a stunned Wembley!
Palmer is caught in possession and the visitors charge forward, with a low Nakamura cross from the left slotted in expertly first-time by Brighton winger Mitoma.
Brilliant from Japan - England cut through with ease.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:05 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
It is so, so quiet inside Wembley. Incredibly flat.
Beyond the occasional trumpet and some clapping from the Japanese fans, there's not a lot happening.
Not even any paper planes yet to keep people amused.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:02 , George Flood15 mins: After a notably nervy start, England have switched on at Wembley and are now dominating the ball and playing plenty in Japan’s half.
A sharp low pass is fired into Gordon, whose touch is too heavy and Foden can’t get there inside the box before goalkeeper Suzuki.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:00 , George Flood13 mins: England are not quite operating as we thought in attack so far tonight.
It’s Rogers on the right, Palmer as the No10 and Gordon on the left, with Foden as the false nine.
We assumed that Palmer and Rogers’ roles would have been reversed.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:59 , George Flood12 mins: England have suddenly burst into life at Wembley, with Guehi’s header blocked before he gets two more goes at it during a spot of frantic pinball inside Japan’s area.
They eventually scramble clear.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:58 , George Flood10 mins: Palmer’s whipped free-kick delivery from the left causes panic inside the Japan box.
England sustain their momentum as an overlapping White’s low cross is cleared behind by Hiroki Ito.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:56 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
First time England can break into some space, but Palmer overhits the pass out to Rogers.
The Aston Villa man has barely had a kick on the right so far, with all of England's play happening inside him.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:54 , George Flood7 mins: Gordon can’t prevent a goal kick for Japan as a tame England attack fizzles out.
This has been a very pedestrian start from the hosts so far.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:53 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
A not-so-convincing start from England, on the back foot already as Japan eye an early lead at Wembley.
Tuchel's men need to hold the ball better.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:51 , George Flood5 mins: England’s nervy start continues, with Gordon and O’Reilly failing to communicate before a sloppy error from Guehi.
Japan are forcing plenty of mistakes here.
England 0-0 Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:50 , George Flood3 mins: Plenty of possession for England in the opening exchanges, but White dives in rashly and a Japan cross from the left just evades Ueda inside the box.
Japan are pressing high and Konsa now gives it away cheaply.
Nervy stuff from England at the back early on.
England vs Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:47 , George FloodUnderway on a big night at Wembley!
England are debuting their new home shirts for the first time, having worn red on Friday.
Scotland’s Nick Walsh is the referee, with Steven McLean on VAR duty.
Teams are out
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:43 , George FloodThe teams are out at Wembley!
Time for the national anthems, with ‘God Save the King’ coming up second.
Tuchel provides new update on Kane injury
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:41 , George FloodTuchel tells ITV ahead of kick-off that Kane picked up his injury “out of nothing” during training yesterday and had “no chance” of playing tonight.
Asked if it is a serious issue, the England boss says: “It's serious enough to not be able to play tonight.”
More worrying perhaps than the initial FA statement appeared to suggest.
Tuchel also confirms that Foden is playing as a false nine.
'Injuries have really disrupted Tuchel's plans for tonight'
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:39 , George FloodHere is more from Standard Sport’s England reporters Matt Verri and Dom Smith at Wembley...
🗣️ "Injuries have really disrupted Tuchel's plans for tonight."@MrDomSmith and @MattVerri preview England's final game before their World Cup squad is named
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) March 31, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/8Q2Y6VjgB8#ENGJPN | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/gmAW2PNefz
Kane absence fast-tracks Tuchel's false-nine experiment
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:32 , George FloodStandard Sport’s Dom Smith at Wembley
The big news of Kane's absence presents a real chance for Tuchel to try out something he was going to assess at some point tonight: a false nine.
He is interested in how both Foden and Gordon fulfil the role. Perhaps both will give it a go over the course of this match.
A night of learnings ahead.
Kamada and Mitoma start for Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:27 , George FloodPlenty of changes too from Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu to the side that beat Scotland on Saturday.
Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada and Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton both come into the starting lineup, as does Hampden Park match-winner Junya Ito.
Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ritsu Doan captains an XI that all play in Europe.
Foden up front as Kane misses out
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:16 , George FloodPhil Foden - who was on the receiving end of a dreadful tackle from Ronald Araujo on Friday - is the only player to retain their starting berth for England tonight and looks to be playing as a false nine with no Harry Kane or Dominic Calvert-Lewin, with Dominic Solanke only on the bench.
Jordan Pickford is back in goal, with stand-in captain Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa partnered at centre-back.
Ben White starts at right-back after scoring, conceding a penalty and being booed on his first England appearance since 2022 against Uruguay, with Carabao Cup final hero Nico O’Reilly at left-back.
No Declan Rice means the recalled Kobbie Mainoo has a big chance to impress alongside Elliot Anderson in midfield.
Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon look to be the wide men, with Morgan Rogers as the No10 supporting Foden.
Jude Bellingham is named on the bench but will presumably play no part this evening.
England explain shock Harry Kane absence
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:54 , George FloodSo, a huge surprise with no Harry Kane at all for England tonight, despite the influential skipper being expected to return and start against Japan after being rested for Friday’s draw with Uruguay.
Jordan Henderson also misses out through injury.
“Harry Kane is rested tonight as a precaution having picked up a minor issue in training, but remains with the squad receiving further assessment,” the FA said in a statement.
“Jordan Henderson returned to Brentford ahead of this evening's fixture.”
Marc Guehi captains England for the first time in Kane’s absence.
Japan lineup
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:39 , George FloodJapan XI: Suzuki, Taniguchi, Watanabe, J Ito, Nakamura, Sano, Kamada, Mitoma, Doan, H Ito, Ueda
England lineup
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:38 , George FloodEngland XI: Pickford, White, Konsa, Guehi, O'Reilly, Anderson, Mainoo, Palmer, Rogers, Gordon, Foden
Tuchel: Rice and Saka were 'desperate' to face Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:35 , George FloodHere’s what England boss Thomas Tuchel had to say at yesterday’s pre-match press conference when asked about the withdrawals of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, who made it 10 Arsenal players to have pulled out of international duty in this window.
"They joined, had a medical assessment, wanted desperately to play, to just get the narrative straight," Tuchel said. “Wanted desperately to be involved.
"But it made just no sense to take this risk. If it would have been maybe a last game of the season, we would have kept them and tried everything. But in this moment of the season, it did not make sense.
"The risk for making it worse was just way too big."
He added: “I understand the look of it.
"I still have 100 per cent trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. We did medical tests. I saw them.
"I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of Arsenal players, I understand the look.
"They both came. Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say 'guys, I'm going home'.
"I heard there were camps (in the past) where players did not even show up with boots and stuff. Then it becomes, OK...but they both came."
Bowen in big chance to stake World Cup claim in fight with Arsenal duo
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:20 , George FloodThis time last year, after Thomas Tuchel began his England reign with a 2-0 win over Albania and 3-0 win over Latvia to kickstart World Cup qualifying, Jarrod Bowen approached the new head coach and had a word, writes Dom Smith.
Bowen outlined to Tuchel how he had struggled against two low-block defences and explained that he flourishes in greater amounts of space against teams who venture out more.
Here was an admission from the West Ham captain that he had not left Tuchel with the first impression he had intended.
Here, also, was a clever play by Bowen to try to convince the German to unleash him in matches against sterner opposition, where he felt he could have greater influence.
While the following 12 months have not gone exactly in line with Bowen’s plan, he has the chance tonight against top-20 opposition in Japan to leave a lasting impact on Tuchel in the final England game before he names his World Cup squad.
England out to continue unbeaten run against Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:18 , George FloodTonight’s meeting is only the fourth time ever that England have played Japan.
Their last match came back in 2010, when Fabio Capello’s Three Lions completed their preparations for the World Cup in South Africa with a rather unconvincing 2-1 friendly victory in rainy Austria.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka opened the scoring early for Japan and Frank Lampard had a penalty saved before two own goals from Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa.
The two nations also drew 1-1 in a warm-up for England for Euro 2004, with Michael Owen on target.
Darren Anderton and David Platt got the goals in a 2-1 victory over Japan - who have never previously beaten England - at the Umbro Cup at the old Wembley back in 1995.
England vs Japan prediction
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:00 , George FloodIt is fourth in the world against the team currently ranked 18th by FIFA at Wembley tonight.
This suggests a fairly close game is on the cards and even more so following the flurry of withdrawals that has hit the England squad.
With that said, a Three Lions side that will be boosted by the returns of Harry Kane, Elliot Anderson and Marc Guehi, coming up against a Japan side that poses a genuine threat in attack, spells one thing: goals.
England to win, 3-2.
Japan team news
Tuesday 31 March 2026 17:52 , George FloodJapan arrive at Wembley tonight full of confidence after beating Scotland on Saturday evening.
A late goal from substitute Junya Ito sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Hajime Moriyasu’s side at Hampden Park, where the hosts were booed.
The likes of Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma and Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada were only introduced off the bench in Glasgow and should be in contention to start against England.
Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka will hope to retain his place in the team, though Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and ex-Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu are both injured.
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda captained Japan against Scotland.
England team news
Tuesday 31 March 2026 17:41 , George FloodThe bulk of England’s 11 players who were rested for Friday night’s 1-1 friendly draw with Uruguay at Wembley should return tonight, including influential captain Harry Kane.
That number also includes Dean Henderson, Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon.
However, Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke have all withdrawn injured, along with John Stones and Adam Wharton.
Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have also returned to their clubs.
Jude Bellingham trained with England yesterday but will not be risked this evening following his recent hamstring injury.
Jordan Henderson is also a doubt.
How to watch England vs Japan
Tuesday 31 March 2026 17:31 , George FloodTV channel: In the UK, England vs Japan is being shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 7pm BST.
Live stream: You can also watch the game live online via the ITVX app, which is free with a registration.
England vs Japan live
Tuesday 31 March 2026 17:22 , George FloodHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of England vs Japan.
It’s a big night ahead at Wembley in what is the Three Lions’ final match before Thomas Tuchel names his 26-man squad for the World Cup finals this summer.
Kick-off is at 7:45pm BST, so stay tuned for match build-up, breaking team news and live updates, including expert analysis from England reporters Dom Smith and Matt Verri.
