The Japan national football team will play a warm-up game with Uzbekistan on January 21st at Saitama Stadium prior to the World Cup Asian Final Qualifying from January 27th next year.
Japan will face China on January 27th and Saudi Arabia on February 1st next year in the final Asian qualifying round of the World Cup Qatar.
As J1 will reach the final round on the 4th of next month and the J-League team will enter the off-season after the Emperor's Cup final is held on the 19th of next month, the players of the domestic group will be adjusted for this final qualifying. It was an issue, and Director Hajime Moriyasu requested that a strengthening match be held, saying, "I want to return to the match of the domestic team and head for the final qualifying."
As a result, the Japan Football Association has announced that Japan, which is ranked 26th in the world, will play a warm-up game against Uzbekistan, which is 84th in the world, at Saitama Stadium on January 21st next year.
Players from the European team are in season, so only J-League players will be called for this match.
On the other hand, regarding the new mutant virus confirmed in South Africa, Prime Minister Kishida announced that from the 30th, new foreigners for business purposes will be suspended from entering all countries and regions of the world in principle. Kozo Tashima, chairman of the Japan Football Association, said in an online interview, "We have always followed the government's decision. We want to respond flexibly."