SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) faced Ecuador National Team at International Stadium Yokohama in Kanagawa on Thursday 1 October in the KIRIN CUP SOCCER 2026. After the match finished goalless, Japan prevailed 5-3 in the penalty shootout, with goalkeeper SUZUKI Zion (Aston Villa FC) making a crucial save to send his side through to the final on Monday 5 October. They will face New Zealand National Team at National Stadium in Tokyo.

Facing an Ecuador side that reached the Round of 32 at this summer's FIFA World Cup™, Japan made extensive changes to the team that started against Venezuela three days earlier.

Suzuki started in goal, with SEKO Ayumu (Le Havre AC), making his third consecutive start, joined in the back three by ITAKURA Kou (Borussia Monchengladbach), who returned after missing the previous match through injury, and ITO Hiroki (FC Bayern Munich). SANO Kaishu (1.FSV Mainz 05) and TANAKA Ao (Leeds United FC) lined up in central midfield, with DOAN Ritsu (Eintracht Frankfurt) at right wing-back and NAKAMURA Keito (Olympique Lyonnais) on the left. TANIMURA Kaina (Yokohama F. Marinos), earning his first national team call-up during this international window, led the line, with KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad) and SUZUKI Yuito (SC Freiburg) playing behind him.

Ecuador had suffered a 3-0 friendly defeat to Korea Republic in Korea on 24 September, but looked much sharper in their second match under former Argentina international Marcelo GALLARDO. They showed their trademark strength in the duels and defended resolutely, with Willian PACHO at the heart of the back line. Their ability to break quickly after winning possession posed a constant threat, and the match developed into an intense contest from the outset.

Japan looked to create openings in a variety of ways. Kubo and Doan combined down the right, while Nakamura attacked the space in behind on the opposite flank and cut inside to shoot. Tanimura also provided an outlet for long passes from Suzuki and the back line as Japan looked for a more direct route forward.

In the 25th minute, Tanimura laid off Tanaka's pass for Suzuki Yuito to shoot from a central position. Shortly after the half-hour mark, Tanimura met a cross from Nakamura and got a shot away, although the move was ruled offside.

Ecuador also threatened after winning possession, with John MERCADO on the right and Nilson ANGULO on the left looking to deliver crosses or cut inside for shots. Just after the 40-minute mark, Keny ARROYO latched onto a loose ball following a corner and fired a powerful effort from distance.

Japan introduced UEDA Ayase (LOSC Lille) at the start of the second half as they looked to increase their attacking threat. After the 65-minute mark, Ueda controlled a cross from the left and laid the ball off for Suzuki Yuito, whose shot was kept out by the Ecuador goalkeeper.

ITO Junya (KRC Genk), KAMADA Daichi (Crystal Palace FC) and SUZUKI Junnosuke (FC Copenhagen) came on in the 67th minute as Japan switched from a back three to a back four. The changes helped Japan push more players forward, and in the 73rd minute Ito collected Nakamura's cross on the right and tested the Ecuador defence with a shot.

MAEDA Daizen (Ipswich Town FC) and SOMA Yuki (FC Machida Zelvia) were introduced in the 79th minute, followed by SHIOGAI Kento (VfL Wolfsburg) in the 86th. With Kamada dropping into the holding midfield role, Japan added more numbers to their attack in search of a breakthrough. Neither side, however, could find the net and the match went to penalties.

Suzuki dived to his left to save Ecuador's third penalty, while all five of Japan's takers — Ueda, Kamada, Ito Hiroki, Soma and Maeda — converted to seal a 5-3 shootout victory.

Earlier at the same venue, New Zealand and Panama drew 1-1 before New Zealand also prevailed 5-3 on penalties to book their place in the final.

Marko STAMENIC gave New Zealand the lead in the 13th minute before Giovany HERBERT equalised for Panama shortly before half-time. Neither side could find a winner after the break, and when Panama's third penalty was saved, New Zealand converted all five of theirs to secure the victory.

The results mean Japan will face New Zealand in the final on Monday 5 October, while Ecuador will take on Panama in the third-place play-off at National Stadium.

Coach and Players' Comments

MORIYASU Hajime, Head Coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)
Ecuador are a very good side, and it was a great opportunity for us to test ourselves against opposition of that quality. Playing against a team with that level of intensity and quality gave us a good sense of where we are and what we still need to improve. I think it was a valuable game for us going forward. Having now played three matches against South American opposition, I feel we still need to become stronger if we want to win these kinds of games more consistently. We had also prepared for the possibility of penalties because our aim was to win, reach the final and ultimately lift the trophy, and that preparation paid off today. We could find ourselves in a penalty shootout at the Asian Cup as well, so this was valuable experience for us.

Zion has the ability, both for Aston Villa and for the national team, to turn defence into attack with a single pass. That's a real weapon for us. Playing directly into the space behind the opposition is one of the options we work on in training, and we want to make the most of Zion's ability to do that. We saw several occasions today when his distribution created opportunities for us.

We didn't have a penalty shootout at the World Cup, but Coach NAKAMURA Shunsuke, Coach MAEDA Ryoichi and technical staff member WATANABE Hideaki have continued to prepare for that possibility and gather data. I think that preparation helped us today. Nakamura also gives the players advice that helps them step up with confidence, and I think that showed today with all five of our players converting their penalties.

GK #1 SUZUKI Zion (Aston Villa FC/England)
We wanted to score and win the game before it got to penalties, but it was a very tough match, so towards the end my main focus was making sure we didn't concede. In the end, I was able to make a save in the shootout and help us win, so I'm pleased with that. We analyse every opponent we face, and whether or not a match can go to a shootout, I always prepare for the possibility of facing a penalty during the game. I was able to put that preparation into practice today, and hopefully I can do the same if we face a penalty in a competition like the Asian Cup. Overall, I didn't have that much to do defensively. Especially in the first half, I was involved more with the ball at my feet. They were pressing us almost man-to-man, and there were a few times when I was able to create opportunities with my distribution. I felt I contributed quite a lot to our build-up and attacking play today.

DF #3 SEKO Ayumu (Le Havre AC/France)
We knew they had some very good players, so I'd looked at their individual strengths before the game and thought about how I could deal with them. I feel like I'm growing as a player by getting the opportunity to play in every match. I don't try to do anything different just because I'm with the national team. I'm simply trying to play the same way I do for my club. In the first half, there were a few times when I got drawn too far towards their number 10 and they were able to exploit the space behind me. Doan covered really well in those situations, which was a big positive for us. I was also pleased that I was able to adjust in the second half and deal with those situations better.

MF/FW #8 SUZUKI Yuito (SC Freiburg/Germany)
I came away feeling that I could have done a bit more. Compared with when I'm playing for Freiburg, I didn't have as many opportunities to drive forward with the ball. I know there's still more I can do, and I would have liked to make more happen out there. At the same time, I feel like I'm gradually developing a better understanding with the players around me. In particular, I was trying to stay close to Kubo so that we could combine.

MF/FW #20 KUBO Takefusa (Real Sociedad/Spain)
They were clearly in good condition and very strong in the duels. They were also winning second balls, and whenever we pushed up, they were quick to play into the space behind us. It felt like they'd prepared specifically for the way we play. There were periods when they made things difficult for us, but overall, I thought we had the better of the game. The important thing was to find a way to win, even if it took penalties. The support from the fans was fantastic. They put pressure on Ecuador's players when they took their penalties and then got right behind us when it was our turn. It reminded me just how much of a difference playing at home can make.

MF/FW #24 SANO Kaishu (1.FSV Mainz 05/Germany)
I thought there were some good moments when we pressed them high, but there were also quite a few times when the distances between our lines became too big and the game opened up. As a midfielder, I think I could have done more to control the game after we won the ball. There were also times when we could have dropped into a more compact shape defensively rather than continuing to press. They were marking us quite tightly, which left some passing lanes open through the middle, so I would have liked to get on the ball more in those areas. The atmosphere in the stadium during the shootout was incredible. We've been practising penalties with the World Cup in mind, and I think it's really important to try to recreate the pressure of a real match as much as possible in training.

MF/FW #26 SHIOGAI Kento (VfL Wolfsburg/Germany)
We've been practising penalties in training, and I haven't missed one, so I wanted to take one today. It was great to come back and play at this stadium. I wanted to score here, but there weren't many chances for me given the way the game developed, so hopefully I can get one at National Stadium next time. I was looking to get in behind their defence, but they followed me more closely than I expected. I was watching Ueda's positioning as well and could see some space opening up behind him, so I wanted to move into that area and look for a chance to shoot from distance. I just didn't get many opportunities to do that. Even watching from the sidelines in the first half, I could see they were a very good team.

MF/FW #31 TANIMURA Kaina (Yokohama F. Marinos)
It was a frustrating game because there were so many things I wasn't able to do. We'd talked before the match, including with Tanaka Ao, about what we wanted to do when we won the ball and had a chance to counter. Those situations didn't come up very often, but I think I was able to put some of what we'd discussed into practice. The supporters created an incredible atmosphere here, and it made me realise that I need to show much more of what I can do. I also realised that when I'm receiving a forward pass or a long ball, simply trying to hold off the defender isn't enough. They were very strong physically and used their arms well, so I need to take those things into account and work on becoming stronger myself.

Marcelo GALLARDO, Head Coach of Ecuador National Team
I thought we were able to compete on even terms with a Japan side that already has a very strong foundation. We were able to play more in the way we wanted in the first half than in the second. The result was ultimately decided on penalties, but I thought we played much better than we did in our previous match. Japan have some excellent players, many of whom play for top clubs in Europe, and they've developed into a very well-organised team over a long period of time. Against a side like that, I thought we were still able to cause them problems.

Fixture: SAMURAI BLUE vs Ecuador National Team
Date: Thu. 1 October, 19:10
Venue: International Stadium Yokohama, Kanagawa
Match information

JFA OFFICIAL
TOP PARTNER

JFA OFFICIAL
SUPPLIER

JFA MAJOR PARTNER

JFA NATIONAL TEAM PARTNER