Japan host Venezuela in Hiroshima as both sides use the international window to shape their next cycle, with the home team seeking another South American result and La Vinotinto beginning a fresh round of selection under Oswaldo Vizcarrondo.
Quick facts
- Japan are 17th in the FIFA rankings, 30 places above Venezuela in 47th.
- It is Japan’s second friendly of the break after a 3-1 win over Uruguay.
- Venezuela are playing their first match of the window ahead of future qualifying fixtures.
- Telasco Segovia and David Martínez miss out through injury.
For Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan, the match follows a mixed but ultimately successful outing against Uruguay. The 3-1 victory offered a response after the team’s painful exit at the 2026 World Cup, although there remain elements to refine as a new phase develops.
Japan have reached their highest ranking of 2026 at 17th, having fallen no lower than 19th during the year. The squad’s present position and its emerging group of players give Moriyasu a platform as he continues with the side.
Venezuela arrive with a different purpose. This is their opening fixture of the international break, and Vizcarrondo is using it to assess players while preparing for the next qualifying campaign.
La Vinotinto are also at their best ranking of the year, 47th, after previously slipping to 50th. Even so, the gap to Japan underlines the scale of the test in Hiroshima.
Vizcarrondo wants to bring younger players into the national-team picture, but two notable options are unavailable. Inter Miami midfielder Telasco Segovia and Midtjylland’s David Martínez have both been ruled out by injury.
Neither absence is expected to end their involvement in the long-term project. Both players have come through youth-team work with the current Venezuela coach and remain part of the plans for the future.
The visitors are set to begin with Contreras in goal, behind Aramburu, Ferraresi, Osorio, Makoun, Balbo, Pereira, Herrera, Libra, Castillo and Kelsy. The match gives Venezuela an immediate measure of their developing side against a Japan team coming off a win over South American opposition.
