Japan face Tunisia in their second Group F fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, 21 June, at 9:30 AM IST at the Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico. The Samurai Blue enter the match knowing that a win would place them on the brink of a third consecutive knockout-stage appearance.

Japan's Position After the Opener

Japan's campaign began with a display of striking resilience: they twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, one of Europe's strongest sides. That hard-fought point underlined both their character and tactical discipline, and it has left them in a strong position in a group where every point counts.

Notably, the expanded 48-team World Cup format means a haul of four points is often enough to place a side comfortably in contention for the Round of 16, making this encounter a potential statement match for the Samurai Blue.

Tunisia's Troubled Start

Tunisia arrive at this fixture under considerable pressure. Their tournament opener ended in a 5-1 defeat to Sweden — the second-heaviest loss of the opening round, surpassed only by Curaçao's 7-1 loss to Germany. The result compounded an already difficult pre-tournament period, which included a 5-0 friendly defeat to Belgium.

The run of heavy losses prompted the dismissal of head coach Sabri Lamouchi. Former Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard has since been appointed to stabilise the side and restore confidence ahead of what is effectively a must-win match for the North Africans.

How to Watch Tunisia vs Japan Live in India

Live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is available in India on the Zee5 platform and app. A subscription is required to access the content.

Live telecast is available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2, and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels in India.

Key Match Details

Date and kick-off time: Sunday, 21 June 2026, 9:30 AM IST
Venue: Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, Mexico
Referee: Istvan Kovacs

Full Squads

Tunisia
Goalkeepers: Sabri Ben Hassan, Abdelmouhib Chamakh, Aymen Dahmene
Defenders: Ali Abdi, Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Adem Arous, Dylan Bronn, Raed Chikhaoui, Moutaz Neffati, Omar Rekik, Montassar Talbi, Yan Valery
Midfielders: Mortadha Ben Ouanes, Anis Ben Slimane, Ismael Gharbi, Rani Khedira, Hadj Mahmoud, Hannibal Mejbri, Ellyes Skhiri
Forwards: Elias Achouri, Khalil Ayari, Firas Chaouat, Rayan Elloumi, Hazem Mastouri, Elias Saad, Sebastian Tounekti

Japan
Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Keisuke Osako, Zion Suzuki
Defenders: Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Yuto Nagatomo, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki, Shogo Taniguchi, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Tsuyoshi Watanabe
Midfielders: Ritsu Doan, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Ao Tanaka
Forwards: Keisuke Goto, Daizen Maeda, Koki Ogawa, Kento Shiogai, Yuito Suzuki, Ayase Ueda

If Japan reproduces the discipline shown against the Netherlands, they will be well placed to close in on the Round of 16. For Tunisia under Hervé Renard, this is an early crossroads moment that will define whether their World Cup campaign has any remaining runway.