Samurai Blue Face New Zealand in Kirin Cup 2026 Final at National Stadium

Article

Samurai Blue's path to the Kirin Cup 2026 final went through a penalty shootout. So did their opponent's.

The Final

Japan faces New Zealand in the Kirin Cup Soccer 2026 final on October 5, 2026, kicking off at 7:30 PM at National Stadium in Tokyo. The match is sold out.

How Both Sides Got Here

Japan beat Ecuador on penalties in their opening match to reach the final, while New Zealand advanced the same way, beating Panama in a shootout of their own.

Head-to-Head

The two national teams have met four times previously, with Japan holding a 3-2 edge and currently riding a three-match winning streak against New Zealand heading into this final.

Ask Marine

Want to know more about Samurai Blue's recent form, or National Stadium itself? Ask Marine.

What To Know

A sold-out national-team final at Japan's biggest stadium, with both sides arriving off dramatic penalty-shootout wins, is as high-stakes as a non-tournament friendly cup gets.

National Stadium (also known as the Japan National Stadium or MUFG Stadium) was built for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and remains the country's primary venue for marquee national-team football matches.

Easy Japanese

10月5日、サッカー日本代表が国立競技場でニュージーランド代表とキリンカップの決勝を戦います。