Japan overwhelms Canada en route to 4-1 win in men’s soccer friendly

With a home World Cup looming in 2026, Canada knows it has to test itself against elite opposition from outside CONCACAF. On Friday, the Canadian men were shown that such lessons can be painful.

Ao Tanaka scored twice as Japan, showing its class, overwhelmed Canada 4-1 in a soccer friendly.

The Japanese, the top-ranked team in Asia at No. 19, were well-organized and led 3-0 at the break after pouncing on mistakes by No. 44 Canada. The Canadians had no answers for the Samurai Blue’s speed and discipline.

“For us, obviously there’s a lot of learnings from this game. There’s things we need to improve,” interim Canada coach Mauro Biello said.

“The score didn’t reflect the performance,” he added.

WATCH | Japan routs Canada:

Not everyone would agree. It was a comprehensive Japan victory.

Keito Nakamura also scored before a lively crowd of some 32,000 at the Denka Big Swan Stadium. Japan, extending its win streak to five games, also benefited from an Alphonso Davies own goal.

Junior Hoilett scored a tap-in consolation goal in the 89th minute after Japan ‘keeper Keisuke Osako could not corral a Jonathan David low cross. It was Hoilett’s 16th goal in 60 Canada appearances.

Down 1-0, Canada had a chance to pull even in the 22nd minute only to see Osako stop David’s penalty kick. David sent his shot down the middle of the goal and a diving Osako acrobatically got a foot to it.

Japan outshot Canada 19-6 (8-3 in shots on target).

Biello debuts

The game was Canada’s first under Biello, a former assistant coach who was put in charge after John Herdman left to take over Toronto FC.

Canada had a nightmarish start, conceding in the second minute. Japan pressed from the get-go and Canada, after a turnover by Davies, failed four times to clear its penalty box. The ball went to Tanaka and the Fortuna Duesseldorf midfielder’s shot beat Milan Borjan.

Japan doubled the lead in the 39th minute after Canada’s defence was carved open. While Takuma Asano’s low, raking cross was just out of the reach of Takumi Minamino, the ball bounced off Davies’ shin, hit Borjan and bounced into the goal. Davies was trying to shield the ball from a waiting Junya Ito.

Three minutes later, Alistair Johnston lost the ball in midfield and Canada was swiftly punished as Nakamura, one pass later, turned and beat Borjan with a fine shot to make it 3-0.

WATCH | Biello eyeing full-time gig with Canada Soccer:

CANMNT interim head coach hoping to coach team at 2026 World Cup

Featured VideoCBC Sports’ Devin Heroux speaks to CANMNT interim head coach Mauro Biello about what he hopes he can bring to the job.

Japan piled on the pain in the 49th minute with Tanaka, freed by a clever ball over the defence from Ito, hammering a shot past Borjan.

Friday’s game was the Canadian men’s lone warm-up for a pair of crucial November CONCACAF Nations League matches that serve as Copa America qualifiers.

Noting the team’s recent inactivity, Biello cited a “lack of cohesion.” Canada last played July 9, losing a penalty shootout to the U.S. in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal.

“It’s not one [training] session and a half that’s going to bring back cohesion,” he said.

Eustaquio, Buchanan out for Canada

Japan, coming off September wins over No. 15 Germany (4-2) and No. 42 Turkey (4-1), plays No. 29 Tunisia in Kobe on Tuesday as it gears up for the start of its 2026 World Cup qualification campaign in November and the Asian Cup in January.

Biello said the Japanese are stacked with talent, “almost players three deep at every position.”

“That’s why they’re beating a lot of teams,” he added. “But this is what we wanted. For the players to feel that type of competition is important. Now they’ll learn from it. They’ll understand how spaces close super-quick at this level. And we’ll be better for it. And we’ll grow from here and be a better team going into Nations League.”

Borjan, earning his 78th cap, captained Canada behind a back three of Johnston, Derek Cornelius and Kamal Miller.

Davies and Richie Laryea were deployed as wingbacks with Samuel Piette, Jonathan Osorio and Ismael Kone in the midfield. David and Cyle Larin started up front.

Canada appealed for a penalty in the 19th minute when Davies, charging after the ball, went down in the penalty box. There was contact with Osako, who plays for Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Davies made the most of it.

The Canadians rallied and managed some time in possession but could not breach the Japan defence until the game was well out of hand.

Hoilett, Harry Paton and Mathieu Choiniere came on in a triple change in the 61st minute with Paton and Choiniere making their senior debut. Liam Millar and Charles Andreas-Brym came on late in the contest.

Nations League up next

The Canadian men came into the game with a 1-2-0 all-time against Japan, winning 2-1 the last time they met — in a World Cup warm-up game last November.

Canada now turns its attention to the CONCACAF Nations League.

“We’ve got to learn from these situations and grow and get ready for November, better,” said Biello.

The Canadian men, along with the 11th-ranked U.S., No. 12 Mexico and No. 46 Costa Rica, have been drawn directly into the two-legged Nations League quarterfinals. The winners there qualify for the 2024 Copa America as well as the Nations League finals in March.

The quarterfinal losers will meet in a pair of play-In matches to determine the final two CONCACAF teams at Copa America.

Canada’s record dropped to 4-3-2 this year with the two previous defeats both at the hands of the Americans.