NEWS

In the run-up to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa later this year, Japan will play a series of warm-up matches at various locations in Japan and abroad.

Japan will face Serbia on April 7 and Korea Republic on May 24 in Kirin Challenge Cup friendly matches at home, before meeting England on May 30 in Austria and Ivory Coast on June 4 in Switzerland, it was announced on Monday.
The matches against Serbia and Korea Republic will kick off at 7:20 p.m.
Japan also has an Asian Cup qualifier against Bahrain on March 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, meaning Japan will play a total of three matches on home soil before going to their final tune-up camp in Switzerland at the end of May.
“We have two matches – against Bahrain and then Serbia – before finalizing our 23-member World Cup squad, and I would like to test our players in those two matches,” Japan coach Takeshi Okada said. “As these games are at home, we want to put on a good performance and get a good result.”
For the Serbia game, which will be played on a non-international match day, Okada said he is planning to call up those players he couldn’t assess on March 3, plus any new players he feels could add impact and momentum to his side. Japan’s Europe-based players are unlikely to take part in that game.
“I won’t decide the final 23 only from those two matches, but will also consider games played in the J. League after that,” Okada said.
JFA President Motoaki Inukai commented: “Serbia is a side who finished top in their qualifying group ahead of France. With the teams tuning up for the World Cup, I am interested in seeing how Japan will play against them. I hope they can confirm their readiness for the finals by beating them with a solid performance.”
Okada also said that he intends to allow his players five days off after the J. League matches on May 16 before starting his team’s final preparations for the World Cup.

Fixtures:
March 3,  vs. Bahrain, AFC Asian Cup qualifier, at Toyota Stadium
April 7,   vs. Serbia, Kirin Challenge Cup friendly, at Nagai Stadium, Osaka
May 24,   vs. Korea Republic, Kirin Challenge Cup friendly, at Saitama Stadium
May 30,   vs. England, friendly, in Austria (TBD)
June 4,    vs. Ivory Coast, friendly, in Switzerland (TBD)