No previous meetings between these teams.
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1
Omar Rekik
1
- 2
Keito Nakamura
1
- 3
Daichi Kamada
1
Tunisia face Japan in the second round of group fixtures at the 2026 World Cup with kick-off set for 5am (UK Time) on Sunday. 21 June.
After a 5-1 defeat to Sweden in their opener, Tunisia immediately dismissed boss Sabri Lamouchi and replaced him with legendary manager Herve Renard. Japan meanwhile, secured a point against the Netherlands on matchday 1 and are fanied to get a result here. Find our Tunisia vs Japan predictions and best bets below.
Tunisia vs Japan Predictions & Betting Tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 2.5 Goals | 11/10 @ bet365 (47.7%) |
⭐⭐⭐ | Tunisia face elimination if they lose this match, which should force them to take a more aggressive approach. Sitting deep would only increase pressure on their defence and make it harder to contain Japan over 90 minutes.Even so, they will still look to threaten in transition and from set pieces, with Rekik’s goal against Sweden showing they can be dangerous in the box. Japan, meanwhile, arrive in strong form, scoring freely in recent games and rarely making defensive mistakes, setting up a lively contest where both sides should create chances. |
| Daizen Maeda anytime scorer | 2/1 @ William Hill (33.3%) |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Celtic striker Daizen Maeda offers Japan a key attacking outlet in this fixture. He will be eager to respond after a quiet outing against the Netherlands. Maeda arrived at the tournament in strong form, scoring seven goals in his final five Scottish Premiership appearances. He netted twice against Rangers and scored the title-clinching goal against Hearts on the final day. That momentum could help him exploit a defence that has struggled against top-level opposition, especially with chances likely in Monterrey. |
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams go into Tunisia vs Japan
Tunisia endured a difficult start to their seventh World Cup, losing 5-1 to Sweden in their opening group game. The defeat led to the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi after just five matches in charge, with French coach Herve Renard now stepping in for his third straight World Cup with a third different nation.
Renard will hope to spark an immediate response against Japan, having previously guided Saudi Arabia to a shock win over Argentina in 2022. Tunisia have won just one of their last eight matches in all competitions and have lost their last three by an 11-1 aggregate score, but they did beat Japan 3-0 in the Kirin Cup four years ago and have won at each of their last two World Cup tournaments.
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Japan are viewed as dark horses at this summer’s tournament and began Group F with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. They twice came from behind in an entertaining second half, with goals from Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada earning a late point after Virgil van Dijk and Crysencio Summerville had put the Oranje ahead.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu was satisfied with the performance but admitted frustration at only taking a point, which ended Japan’s six-game winning run. The Samurai Blue remain in strong position to reach the knockout stages for a third straight World Cup and will look to boost their chances against Tunisia, having won five of their last six meetings, including a 2-0 friendly victory in 2023.
Tunisia team news
There is uncertainty around Tunisia’s team selection under new head coach Hervé Renard. He prefers a back four but is likely to continue with a three centre-back system due to limited preparation time, with stability expected to take priority over major changes.
Yan Valery and Ali Abdi should continue as wing-backs, likely in deeper roles, while Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Omar Rekik and Montassar Talbi are set to remain in defence with Abdelmouhib Chamakh in goal. In midfield, Ismael Gharbi could replace Hannibal Mejbri, joining Rani Khedira and Ellyes Skhiri, while Firas Chaouat may come in up front with Elias Saad shifted wider and Anis Ben Slimane potentially dropping out.
Japan team news
Hajime Moriyasu is expected to stick with continuity after Wataru Endo’s injury, with Daichi Kamada and Kaishu Sano likely to continue as the central midfield pairing. Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura should provide width from wing-back roles, although both will push high and support Japan’s attack. At the back, Japan are likely to remain unchanged, with Zion Suzuki in goal and Shogo Taniguchi, Tsuyoshi Watanabe and Hiroki Ito forming the central defence.
Head-to-head: Last 6 meetings
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 17th October 2023 | Friendly | Japan 2-0 Tunisia |
| 14th June 2022 | Kirin Cup | Tunisia 3-0 Japan |
| 27th March 2015 | Friendly | Japan 2-0 Tunisia |
| 3rd October 2003 | Friendly | Japan 1-0 Tunisia |
| 14th June 2002 | World Cup | Tunisia 0-2 Japan |
| 13th October 1996 | Friendly | Japan 1-0 Tunisia |
Conclusion
We’ve decided to stay away from the match result market, with Japan looking a little short. Instead, we like the look of Over 2.5 Goals, or back Maeda to get on the scoresheet at a very backable 2/1 with William Hill.
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