Spotlight on one fierce record: the Japan national football team has maintained it for 8 consecutive years before opening against the Netherlands at the 2026 World Cup.
On 10 Jun 2026 GMT+7, we spotlight one fierce record of the "Samurai Blue," Japan's national football team, coached by Hajime Moriyasu. The team has achieved an outstanding feat by not losing to any European nation in regular 90-minute play for 8 consecutive years, ahead of their opening match against the "Orange Lions," the Netherlands national football team.
Starting from 2021, they beat Serbia 1-0 (friendly). In 2022, they won 2-1 against Germany (World Cup), 2-1 against Spain (World Cup), and drew 1-1 with Croatia (World Cup) before losing 1-3 on penalties. Then, in 2023, they defeated Germany 4-1 (friendly), Turkey 4-2 (friendly), and in 2026, they won 1-0 against Scotland (friendly) and 1-0 against England (friendly).
For the "Samurai Blue," the Japan national football team, the schedule is set to face the "Orange Lions", the Netherlands national team, in the 2026 World Cup group stage, Group F, opening match on the night of 14 June at 03:00 Thailand time (GMT+7).