Around two months after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) are embarking on a new cycle. Facing Uruguay in their first match seems a fitting way to begin their journey towards the next World Cup in 2030. Following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, MORIYASU Hajime remained in charge of Japan, and the first match of that new cycle was also against Uruguay, in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2023. Uruguay have a historic connection to the World Cup. The South American nation hosted and won the inaugural tournament in 1930, and while most matches in 2030 will be played in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, Uruguay will also host one match to mark the centenary of the competition.

Japan and Uruguay first met 41 years ago at the Kirin Cup Soccer '85 in Tokyo in May 1985. The match, Japan's first senior international against a South American national team, ended in a comprehensive 4-1 defeat. Eleven years later, Japan avenged that loss with a 5-3 victory in an international friendly in Osaka, with MIURA Kazuyoshi scoring twice. It marked Japan's first win over a former World Cup-winning nation. The two sides last met in Miyagi in the KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2013, when Uruguay won 4-2, and will return to the prefecture for their first meeting there in 13 years.

Uruguay have won the World Cup twice, in 1930 and 1950, and more recently finished fourth at the 2010 tournament in South Africa. Their last two World Cup campaigns, however, have ended in disappointing group-stage exits. At the 2026 tournament, draws against Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde, both ranked below Uruguay in the FIFA World Ranking, meant they were unable to pick up as many points as they had hoped. They then faced Spain with a place in the knockout stage at stake. Uruguay put up a determined fight against the eventual champions but ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat, bringing their campaign to an end.

Following the tournament, Argentine coach Marcelo BIELSA stepped down and was succeeded by Uruguayan football legend Diego FORLAN, who was appointed interim head coach until next March. Announcing his appointment, the Uruguayan Football Association described Forlan as one of the most important figures in the history of the national team and noted that he was returning to a place where he had left an unforgettable mark. Forlan won the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup and helped Uruguay win the Copa America the following year. He also scored twice against Japan in the aforementioned match in Miyagi in 2013 and later played for J.League side Cerezo Osaka in 2014 and 2015.

The match against Japan, a country with which he has strong ties, will be the first in charge of the senior national team for the 47-year-old Forlan, who also serves as head coach of the Uruguay U-20 National Team. There are high expectations in Uruguay for what the former star can achieve as head coach.

Results of last 5 matches
(H: Home, A: Away, N: Neutral ground, ○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

Record against Japan

4 wins 3 draws 2 losses (24 goals, 18 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: 15
Best result: Champions

1930　Champions
1934　Did not participate
1938　Did not participate
1950　Champions
1954　Fourth place
1958　Eliminated in the qualifier
1962　Group stage
1966　Quarterfinals
1970　Fourth place
1974　Group stage (1st Round)
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Round of 16
1990　Round of 16
1994　Eliminated in the qualifier
1998　Eliminated in the qualifier
2002　Group stage
2006　Eliminated in the qualifier
2010　Fourth place
2014　Round of 16
2018　Quarterfinals
2022　Group stage
2026　Group stage

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