Eleven days out from the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener (June 11, Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca), the tournament hasn't kicked off — but the Japan desk's story peaks tonight. The Samurai Blue play their final pre-World Cup warm-up against Iceland at a sold-out National Stadium in Tokyo, kickoff 19:25 JST. Captain Wataru Endo is set to start his first competitive match since February foot surgery, while Maya Yoshida — recalled for this game only — gets an early send-off cameo. No tournament matches have been played yet; here's what's worth tracking on the road to the opener.