Japan vs Paraguay
It’s International Weekend everyone, and East Asia comes alive on Friday when Japan host Paraguay in an International Friendly at the Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka.
Kirin Cup soccer has been a highlight in Japan since the tournament was first organised by the Kirin Brewery Company back in 1978, and it was last played in 2022. With Brazil and South Korea also meeting on Friday, East Asia football fans have a chance to see some of the best players on the planet.
Both already qualified for World Cup 2026. Japan and Paraguay are beginning their preparations for the USA showcase, and I’m looking forward to a competitive clash when they meet this week, with the Samurai Blue, on home ground, expected to come out on top, according to the International Friendly 2025 odds.
Talking Points
Japan’s midfield muscle
Head coach Haijme Moriyasu has been in charge of Japan since 2018 and has overseen an exciting time in the nation’s football life, making it through the group stage of the last two World Cups and starring as a guest in the Copa America, and he has a team with a growing number of household names. Japan are captained by Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, who came on during the Reds’ loss to Chelsea on Saturday, a result which caused a slight shift in the SBOTOP odds.
Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace, another club that has started well in the Premier League, has scored 11 goals in 44 games for Japan, and he has been a fixture in the national team, alongside Endo and AS Monaco’s attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino, who has scored 24 goals in 69 internationals. And then there is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ritsu Doan, who has scored 10 goals in 58 for Japan, and he has started well with the Eagles, who have put together a strong set of results as they balance domestic and Champions League priorities.
Japan were the first nation to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, beating Bahrain in March to book their place in the USA, and the fans are rewarded with a selection of superb talent in midfield with multiple goal threats. But on Friday, they will come up against a nation that really hates conceding International Friendly 2025 highlights.
Albiroja call up for Manchester United starlet
Paraguay have successfully qualified for World Cup 2026, though it went to the last two games as they finished sixth in the final CONMEBOL table, after drawing their penultimate match 0-0 with Ecuador before beating Peru 1-0 on the last round. They have conceded just one goal over the past four games, in a narrow defeat to Brazil, while also beating Uruguay 2-0. Head coach Gustavo Alfaro knows how to set a team up to frustrate, and the Blue Samurai may have to be patient.
But the Paraguay boss likes his teams to show their teeth too and has an eye to the future, calling up Manchester United’s exciting young talent Diego Leon for his first trip with the national team. The 18-year-old knows how to defend as a left-back, making 33 appearances for Paraguayan team Cerro Porteno, but he can also raid at pace as a wing-back. His eye-catching performances earned him a move to Old Trafford and a place on the club’s preseason tour, in a deal which could rise to £7 million. And if he continues to progress, Leon may well force his way into Ruben Amorim’s thinking, as the Red Devils manager strives to get the right balance.
Paraguay do have a smattering of their own established players in Europe’s top leagues too, with Sunderland’s Omar Alderete in defence and former Newcastle United star, Miguel Almiron, now at Atalanta United. Brighton’s Diego Gomez is primed to start too while up front, Paraguay have Antonio Sanabria, now at Cremonese, opening day slayers of AC Milan in Serie A. The former Roma, Real Betis, and Torino player adds real star quality to the team.
History
Japan are eight-time qualifiers for the World Cup, reaching the Round of 16 in both 2018 and 2022. Meanwhile, Paraguay have also qualified for the World Cup finals eight times and were quarter-finalists back in 2010.
Japan have had the better of the head-to-heads, winning five, drawing four, and losing two of the 12 previous encounters, and winning three of the last four clashes.
And in terms of recent form, both nations are in good shape. Japan have won five, drawn two, and lost two in 2025, while Paraguay have won three, drawn two, and lost one, that 1-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil.
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