England vs. Japan: Head-to-head record and past meetings

By Ben Knapton | 29 Mar 2026 10:49, Last updated: 31 Mar 2026 21:50

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 4

England wins: 2

Draws: 1

Japan wins: 1

Two nations who will never meet in European Championships or World Cup qualifying, the senior men's teams of England and Japan have only ever squared off four times down the years, all in international friendlies.

Prior to 2026, the Samurai Blue had never celebrated a senior men's victory over England, but that all changed ahead of that year's World Cup; Kaoru Mitoma's winner saw an Asian nation beat the Three Lions for the first time.

The two countries did not lock horns on the international circuit until 1995, when Darren Anderton and David Platt were on target for England in a 2-1 victory at the Old Wembley, the latter converting an 88th-minute penalty.

Japan would have to wait nine years for another shot at success against the English, who faced the Samurai Blue in a Euro 2004 warm-up friendly boasting a star-studded team comprising Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Paul Scholes.

However, Sven-Goran Eriksson's Three Lions had to settle for a 1-1 draw at the Etihad Stadium, where Owen's opener was cancelled out by Shinji Ono.

Almost exactly six years later, England and Japan crossed paths for just the third time in a 2010 friendly, where Fabio Capello's men claimed the bragging rights with a 2-1 victory at the Merkur Arena in Austria.

Japan were the architects of their own downfall in that friendly, though, as after taking the lead through Tulio, the same player scored an own goal before Yuji Nakazawa also put the ball in the wrong net to complete England's comeback for them.

While the Samurai Blue were still 1-0 up, Lampard had a penalty saved by Eiji Kawashima - one of 12 non-shootout spot kicks he missed in his career.