Japan have beaten New Zealand 3-0 in the final Group A game at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Chile.
Playing in the rain at Estadio Elías Figueroa Brander, Valparaíso, Japan went ahead in the first half with a stunning strike from Kosei Ogura, who lashed the ball into the roof of the New Zealand net from 25 metres.
Japan added two more goals in the second half to top the group.
In the other group match, Egypt beat hosts Chile 2-1.
The results left New Zealand bottom of the group on goal difference, consigning them to an early exit from the 24-nation tournament.
READ MORE: New Zealand exit FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup after 3-0 loss to Japan >>>>
READ MORE: Coach Chris Greenacre takes positives from FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign >>>>
Watch the highlights
Results
Games played on Saturday October 4, 2025 (NZT)
Group A
New Zealand 0
Japan 3 (Kosei Ogura 21′, own goal 64′, Hisatsugu Ishii 82′)
Egypt 2 (Ahmed Abdin 47′, Omar Khedr 90+5′)
Chile 1 (Javier Carcamo 27′)
Line-ups
New Zealand
Henry Gray, Xuan Loke, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Adama Coulibaly, Jayden Smith (Noah DuPont 83′), Fergus Gillion, Finn McKenlay, Oliver Middleton (Ryan Watson 83′), Keegan Kelly (Luke Supyk 83′), Nathan Walker (Luke Brooke-Smith 67′), Stipe Ukich (Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues 83′).
Subs not used: Joe Wallis, Josey Casa-Grande, Codey Phoenix, Troy Putt, Luke Supyk.
Head coach: Chris Greenacre
Japan
Rui Araki, Keita Kosugi (Rei Umeki,68′), Rion Ichihara (Kazunari Kita 46′), Harumichi Shiokawa, Soichiro Mori, Kosei Ogura, Yumeki Yokoyama (Hisatsugu Ishii 58′), Hagumu Nakagawa (Shunsuke Saito 72′), Nelson Ishiwatari, Sora Hiraga, Soma Kanda (Rento Takaoka 58′).
Subs not used: Keisuke Nakamura, Alexandre Pisano, Ryunosuke Sato. Katsuma Fuse, Yuto Ozeki,
Head coach: Yuzo Funakoshi.
Officials
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru).
Assistant referees: Michael Orue (Peru), Jesus Sanchez (Peru).
Fourth official: Dario Herrera (Argentine).
This story was first published on October 4, 2025.
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