🏏 Thu, 1 Oct 2026 19:10 JST
Japan
vs
エクアドル代表
3-4-2-1 vs 4-4-1-1
Substitutes
Substitutes
Match Preview
- A Kirin Cup meeting that pits Japan's 3-4-2-1 against Ecuador's 4-4-1-1. Leading the visitors' line is John Yeboah, 26, born in Hamburg to a Ghanaian father and an Ecuadorian mother. A Wolfsburg academy graduate, he committed to Ecuador in 2024 and scored on his debut, and now has 3 goals in 22 caps with Serie A side Venezia. How Japan's back three handle his 170cm mobility will shape the opening exchanges.
- Japan's central pairing is Kaishu Sano (25, CDM) screening in front of the defence alongside left-footed box-to-box midfielder Ao Tanaka (28, CM). Sano came through Kashima Antlers and Machida Zelvia before establishing himself at Mainz on the back of his range and ball-winning, while Tanaka scored the winner against Spain at Qatar 2022. Ecuador counter with Pedro Vite (24, UNAM in Liga MX, 1 goal in 16 caps) and home-based Jordy Alcívar (27, Independiente del Valle, 1 in 10).
- Takefusa Kubo (25, RW) and Yuito Suzuki (24, AM) start as the two shadow strikers. Kubo, a left-footer who came through Real Madrid and spent loan spells at Mallorca, Villarreal and Getafe, offers cutting-in shots and incisive through balls. Suzuki is a versatile attacker developed at Shimizu S-Pulse and Brøndby, adding dribbling and shooting from range. If the pair connect in tight areas, that is where Ecuador's bank of four midfielders can be prised open.
- At right wing-back, Ritsu Doan (28) brings his trademark left-footed cut-ins — he scored in back-to-back group games against Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022 after a career spanning Gamba Osaka, Groningen, PSV and Freiburg. Opposite him is Pervis Estupiñán (28), who joined AC Milan from Brighton in the summer of 2025 as the club's first-ever Ecuadorian. With 4 goals in 53 caps and a habit of relentless overlapping, this flank should swing both ways.
- On the other side, Keito Nakamura (26, LW) operates as left wing-back. The left-footer built his reputation via Gamba Osaka and Twente and is at his most dangerous cutting inside. Ecuador's answer is unusual: Alan Franco (28), a 57-cap central midfielder who anchors the middle for Atlético Mineiro, lines up in the back four. A natural No. 6 asked to handle Nakamura's pace one-on-one is one of the clearest individual battles on the card.
- Japan's back three reads Hiroki Ito, Ko Itakura and Ayumu Seko from left to right. Ito is a 186cm left-footed centre-back who helped Stuttgart finish second in the Bundesliga before moving to Bayern Munich; Seko, also left-footed, was schooled at Cerezo Osaka and Grasshoppers and is trusted to build from deep. With two left-footers in the line, progression from the back should be smooth, while Itakura — comfortable enough to play in midfield and a mainstay at Qatar 2022 — holds the middle.
- Ecuador's centre-back pairing is imposing. Willian Pacho (24) joined PSG from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2024 and won the Champions League in his first season, bringing left-footed comfort and 2 goals in 34 caps, while Jackson Porozo (26, Tijuana) stands 193cm. Japan hold Ayase Ueda (28, ST) in reserve: the striker who broke the Japanese scoring record in the Eredivisie with Feyenoord has the penalty-box instincts and hold-up play to test that wall.
- The goalkeeping duel spans 15 years. Zion Suzuki, 24, was born in the United States, came through Urawa Reds' academy and made 59 appearances across two seasons at Parma; he started all four of Japan's matches at the 2026 World Cup before joining Aston Villa that August. Hernán Galíndez, 39, was born in Argentina and naturalised as Ecuadorian in 2019, has 34 caps including three games at Qatar 2022, and now plays for Huracán back in his homeland.
- Japan's bench offers contrasting attacking profiles. Daichi Kamada (30, AM) won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt and, via Lazio, features as a No. 10 or interior at Crystal Palace. Junya Ito (33, RW) still carries explosive pace and can use either foot after spells at Kashiwa Reysol, Genk and Reims, while Daizen Maeda (28, ST) brings the relentless pressing he honed at Celtic. Younger options include Kento Shiogai (24), formerly of Southampton, and FC Copenhagen centre-back Junnosuke Suzuki (23).
- Ecuador's reserves carry weight too. Félix Torres (29, Internacional) is a 187cm centre-back with 5 goals in 48 caps and a genuine set-piece threat, while Ángelo Preciado (28, Atlético Mineiro) is a 54-cap right-back built on stamina up and down the flank. Further forward, Alan Minda (23, 2 goals in 19 caps) and Antwerp's Anthony Valencia (23) give Beccacece two quick wide players capable of attacking either side late on.