Fixtures · Oct 15, 2026
Official: Japan will play a Kirin Challenge Cup match in Osaka on December 30
Update, Nov 4: the Asian Cup has since been postponed to December 2027. The Dec 30 match is still on the JFA's schedule, though some Japanese outlets now call it uncertain; the JFA hasn't commented. It's official: Samurai Blue is coming to Osaka for one more night before the Asian Cup. The JFA announced on October 15 that Japan will play a Kirin Challenge Cup 2026 match on Wednesday, December 30, at Panasonic Stadium Suita. The opponent, kickoff time and TV coverage are all still TBA. The JFA lists every one of them as still being arranged. Earlier reports pointed to Vietnam, but that has not been confirmed, so we'll wait for the official word. This becomes the last scheduled match before the Asian Cup, following the Brazil rematch on November 14 and Paraguay on November 17 in Singapore. Kansai crew, this one's yours. We'll post the opponent and ticket details the moment they drop.
Source: JFA official announcement