OffsAIde
·1 juin 2026
Ao Tanaka handed Japan start against Iceland before World Cup

In partnership with
Yahoo sportsOffsAIde
·1 juin 2026

Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka starts for Japan against Iceland in Tokyo today, a timely audition before this summer’s World Cup.
According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the 27-year-old lines up in centre midfield alongside Liverpool’s Wataru Endo for the 11.25am UK-time kick-off at the MUGF Stadium.
Tanaka is already in Hajime Moriyasu’s final 26-man squad for the tournament.
He began March’s friendly against Scotland, playing 78 minutes of a 1-0 win.
He was then named on the bench for the trip to Wembley to face England, later introduced with 19 minutes remaining and making a positive impression.
The Iceland clash is Japan’s final friendly before the World Cup, giving Tanaka another chance to stake his claim.
Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk







































