England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions stall as Japan are crowned | OneFootball

England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions stall as Japan are crowned | OneFootball

In partnership with

Yahoo sports
Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

·31 March 2026

England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions stall as Japan are crowned

Article image:England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions stall as Japan are crowned

A huge surprise at Wembley after Japan’s 1-0 win over England.

To wrap up the March international break, England leave with a draw against Uruguay (1-1) and a defeat against Japan (0-1).


OneFootball Videos


The match was decided by a lone goal from Mitoma in the first half. Despite the "Three Lions'" constant attempts to break down the defensive wall, Japan’s discipline and speed in transition frustrated an England attack that lacked finishing today.

For England, this home defeat sets off some alarm bells in Thomas Tuchel’s setup. Although the hosts largely controlled possession and territory, the lack of ideas in the final third made it clear that there are still adjustments to be made before the World Cup.

The Wembley crowd, expecting a send-off celebration before the tournament, left with the feeling that their team had been outplayed by the strategic intelligence of an opponent that can no longer be considered a surprise.

This victory is no isolated result for Japan, who are coming off an impeccable run after also edging past Scotland by the same scoreline just a few days earlier. With this result, the Asian side confirms that its preparation for the North American World Cup is on the right track.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.


📸 Mike Hewitt - 2026 Getty Images

View publisher imprint