Japan scores four in historic 1000th World Cup match

In a landmark encounter that marked the 1000th match in FIFA World Cup history, Japan delivered an impressive performance by defeating Tunisia 4-0 in Monterrey. This match held significant weight as Japan aimed for their first victory after a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.

Daichi Kamada opened the scoring early, netting a goal just four minutes into the game after a swift attack that involved Keito Nakamura. Japan continued to dictate the pace, and moments later, Kamada nearly doubled the lead, but a goal-line technology review confirmed that the ball did not cross the line.

The pressure from Japan finally paid off in the 31st minute when Ayase Ueda pushed through Tunisia's defense and scored by firing a shot through Montassar Talbi's legs, making it 2-0. Any hope for a Tunisian comeback vanished shortly after halftime. In the 69th minute, Kamada provided a brilliant through-ball to Junya Ito, who secured Japan’s third goal. Ueda capped the victory with a looping header in the 84th minute from Kaishu Sano's cross.

This triumph not only pushed Japan closer to the knockout stages but also extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, positioning them second in Group F. For Tunisia, however, this loss confirmed their elimination from the tournament after just two matches, marking a disappointing beginning to Hervé Renard's tenure as coach. The Carthage Eagles became the first African nation to exit the expanded 48-team World Cup, joining Haiti and Türkiye in an early exit.

In other matches, Curaçao celebrated a milestone by earning their first-ever World Cup point after drawing with Ecuador in Group E. Meanwhile, Germany narrowly defeated Côte d'Ivoire 2-1, with the Ivorians narrowly missing opportunities to secure a win. The Netherlands also showcased their strength by defeating Sweden 5-1, further solidifying their position in Group F.