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Send-off done: Japan beats Iceland 1-0, then flies out for the Netherlands opener

Japan's last match before the World Cup is in the books. On May 31 at Tokyo's National Stadium, Moriyasu's side beat Iceland 1-0 in the Kirin Challenge Cup, a substitute Kohki Ogawa heading in the only goal late on for a sixth straight win. The squad now leaves Japan on June 2 for a pre-camp in Monterrey and a base in Nashville, with the Netherlands opener on June 14 the next thing on the calendar.

Match page

## The dress rehearsal Japan closed its home program with a 1-0 win over Iceland at the National Stadium (MUFG Stadium) on May 31, the final fixture of the Kirin Challenge Cup before the squad departs. The breakthrough came late: substitute forward Kohki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen) headed home the winner in the closing stages. World No. 18 Japan controlled much of the night against No. 75 Iceland but had to wait for the goal — a reminder that finishing, not chance creation, may be the margin in tight group games. ## Six in a row, then wheels up The result extends Japan's winning run to six and lets Moriyasu travel with momentum rather than questions. The 26-man World Cup squad, named on May 15, leaves Japan on June 2, trains first in Monterrey, Mexico, then settles into its tournament base at the Nashville SC training center in Tennessee — a 2023-built facility with three pitches, video-analysis rooms and recovery and medical suites. Moriyasu has noted that backup players are being kept ready, with squad changes permitted up to 24 hours before the opener. ## Reading toward June 14 For the Netherlands opener this send-off offers two honest signals. The win and clean sheet point to a settled defensive block, the thing Japan will lean on against Oranje quality. The single, late goal underlines the open question up front, where injuries thinned the attacking options before the squad was even set. The dress rehearsal answered the mood; Arlington will test the rest. We'll carry these send-off takeaways into the full Netherlands preview as the June 14 opener nears.

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