England is set to continue its preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a friendly match against Japan tonight.
The Three Lions recently played to a 1-1 draw against Uruguay, where Ben White experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. He scored his first goal for England in the 81st minute, only to concede a penalty that led to Federico Valverde’s equalizer in stoppage time.
Thomas Tuchel, visibly frustrated by some of the officiating decisions during the match at Wembley, will be eager to conclude this international break on a high note.
Japan, on the other hand, secured a late victory against Scotland over the weekend, marking their fourth consecutive win in international play.
Match Details
The friendly between England and Japan is scheduled for a 7:45 PM BST kick-off on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Wembley Stadium.
Viewing Options
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live and free on ITV1, with coverage starting at 7 PM BST. Fans can also stream the game live on the ITVX website and app.
For real-time updates, Standard Sport will provide a live blog featuring expert analysis from Dom Smith at the venue.
Team News
England’s squad has faced several withdrawals since the draw with Uruguay. Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and Noni Madueke have returned to Arsenal for medical assessments, while Manchester City defender John Stones has also pulled out.
Additionally, Adam Wharton, Aaron Ramsdale, Fikayo Tomori, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin are no longer in the squad, leaving Tuchel with a revised roster of 27 players for the match against Japan. Jude Bellingham will not be included due to ongoing fitness concerns.
Jordan Pickford may return as goalkeeper, supported by a defense that could feature Dan Burn, Marc Guehi, and Ezri Konsa, with Tino Livramento as a right-back option.
Captain Harry Kane and Elliot Anderson have rejoined the squad and are expected to play after missing the previous match against Uruguay, where an experimental lineup struggled.
Japan’s Squad Updates
Japan will be without key midfielder Wataru Endo, who is racing against time to recover from surgery following a 1-0 victory over Sunderland last month. Manager Hajime Moriyasu might consider adjustments to the lineup that faced Scotland, potentially giving Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma a starting role.
Match Prediction
With England ranked fourth in the world and Japan at 18th, the match is anticipated to be competitive, particularly given the recent withdrawals from the England squad.
However, the return of Kane, Anderson, and Guehi could provide a significant boost for the Three Lions, who will face a Japanese team that poses a credible threat in attack. The prediction is a narrow victory for England, with a scoreline of 3-2.
Head-to-Head History
This match marks the first encounter between the two nations since May 2010, when England overcame Japan in a friendly in Austria, thanks to two own goals from Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuji Nakazawa.
- England wins: 2
- Japan wins: 0
- Draws: 1
Match Odds
- England to win: 8/15
- Japan to win: 4/1
- Draw: 12/5
Odds are provided by Betfair and are subject to change.
Bildquelle: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
