World Cup 2026: Tunisia Face a Samurai Blitz

Tunisia vs Japan

Group F action continues this weekend as Sweden face the Netherlands, and the World Cup 2026 match between Tunisia and Japan is the entertainment on offer at the Estadio BBVA on Saturday night local time. 

Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their opener, and manager Hajime Moriyasu can be proud of how his team shaped up against a highly-rated Oranje outfit, while Tunisia were on the end of a 5-1 spanking at the hands of a rampant Sweden.  

Sitting 17^th in the FIFA World Rankings, the Samurai Blue are carrying the hopes of Asia at this World Cup and will be a tough opponent for anyone they meet in the knockout phase, presuming they make it, of course. 

Meanwhile, Tunisia, who have just appointed Herve Renard as their new head coach, are hoping to rescue something from the wreckage of their opening day disaster. 

 

Talking Points

Japan’s fighting spirit

Moriyasu’s warriors battled brilliantly last week to take a point away from Ronald Koeman’s Oranje, twice coming from behind to take a share of the spoils. Crystal Palace star Daichi Kamada diverted in an 89^th-minute leveller to send the Blue fans wild, but it was no more than Japan deserved. 

The Netherlands knew they were facing no mugs after Japan had beaten England in a spring friendly at Wembley, and Koeman cut a delighted figure when Crysencio Summerville curled in a beauty midway through the second half to make it 2-1 to the Netherlands.

Keito Nakamura had already levelled for Japan after Virgil van Dijk had opened the scoring. And when the Oranje had inched ahead again, it looked like they had done the job until Kamada popped up to level again with his 13^th goal for his country. 

This fighting spirit could take the Samurai Blue far, and the World Cup 2026 betting odds say their next game will go with Moriyasu’s men, particularly as they face a team in some disarray.  

 

Can Renard turn Tunisia around?

The Eagles met a Sweden side which was simply sensational on the day, with a strike force led by Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres and the fit-again Alexander Isak. The way they were brutally dismantled though, was too much for the Tunisian football authorities, who instantly fired manager Sabri Lamouchi, and former Saudi Arabia head coach Herve Renard was appointed without delay. 

This piece of World Cup 2026 news may have been a knee-jerk reaction after the Eagles had not conceded a goal in qualifying, becoming the first side to do so (though the Ivory Coast and England soon matched that feat) 

Renard has enjoyed some success at this level before, leading the Saudis to a headline-grabbing 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina at the 2022 World Cup, and he also guided them to this World Cup in the USA.  

One player the new manager can rely on is Burnley’s spiky midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who will fight to the end. He was the architect of Tunisia’s goal against the Swedes, crossing for Omar Rekik to head home. Hannibal can be a hot head, but he never leaves anything on the pitch, and he has no little skill. 

 

History 

Japan are at their eighth finals and have reached the Round of 16 four times, in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Tunisia are in the finals for the seventh time, and are yet to escape the group stage. But the Eagles do have a proud place in World Cup history as the first African nation to win a match at the finals, beating Mexico in 1978. 

The last time these two nations met in a 2023 friendly, Japan won 2-0 to make it three wins to one in their head-to-heads, and the Samurai Blue come into the match in much better form, with three wins before the draw against the Netherlands, and they are unbeaten since September 2025.

Meanwhile, Tunisia have had a wretched run in the warm-ups, drawing with Canada in April, and then losing three on the bounce, conceding 11 goals, and scoring just one. 

 

Betting Tip

Along with South Korea, the Samurai Blue are carrying the hopes of Asia. And after a strong performance against the Netherlands, there is plenty of optimism in the ranks. Tunisia were strong in qualifying but have collapsed since March, and they need a new manager if they are to rescue something from the wreckage.   

Tunisia are out at SBOTOP odds of 6.60 to win this clash and 4.03 to draw, with Japan at 1.51, and I can’t see it going any other way. And for a correct scoreline, my alternative bet is 3-1 to Japan at odds of 13.00.

   

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