Japan recorded their first-ever victory over England with a 1-0 win at Wembley, courtesy of Kaoru Mitoma’s early strike in a World Cup warm-up

Kaoru Mitoma scored the only goal as Japan made history, defeating England 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday in a World Cup warm-up friendly.

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The Japan historic win over England ended a long wait for a maiden success against the Three Lions, who had previously beaten Japan twice and drawn once.

Mitoma’s early strike gave the Samurai Blue a deserved lead that they never relinquished.

Japan’s composed and disciplined performance thrilled hundreds of Japanese fans in the stands, signalling their growing strength on the global stage.

Currently ranked 18th in FIFA’s standings, Japan is on a five-match winning streak, including notable wins over Brazil and Scotland.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side have now raised expectations ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America, aiming to reach the quarter-finals for the first time after being eliminated in the last-16 in four of the last six tournaments.

For England, the defeat highlighted ongoing concerns under manager Thomas Tuchel. Fringe players like Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, and Anthony Gordon struggled to make an impact, raising questions about squad depth ahead of the tournament.

Captain Harry Kane missed the match with a minor issue, leaving Tuchel searching for a reliable deputy.

The game’s defining moment came in the 23rd minute. Palmer lost possession to Mitoma, who initiated a swift counter-attack.

Ben White was caught out of position as Mitoma linked with Keito Nakamura before finishing clinically from 12 yards.

Despite England creating some chances, including a long-range effort from Elliot Anderson that was saved by Zion Suzuki, they failed to break down Japan’s resilient defence.

As the final whistle blew, Japan celebrated a historic victory, while England faced boos from their home supporters, left to ponder a lacklustre display.

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The win gives Japan confidence heading into the World Cup, while England will look to regroup ahead of friendlies against New Zealand and Costa Rica in Florida before their tournament opener against Croatia on June 17.