Scotland v Japan: Key stats
Scotland are winless in three previous meetings with Japan, drawing 0-0 in 1995 and 2006 and losing 2-0 October 2009. It is the most times Scotland have faced an opponent without scoring in their history; the other countries they've faced without netting are Costa Rica (two), Morocco (one) and Mexico (one). Japan have won five of their past six matches against European nations (D1), having lost six in a row beforehand against European teams.
Scotland have won eight of their past 12 matches (D1 L3), having only won one of their previous 16 beforehand (D5 L10). Japan have won seven of their past 10 games in all competitions (D2 L1), including the latest three in a row since a 2-2 friendly draw with Paraguay. Scotland won their last friendly in June 2025, beating Liechtenstein 4-0.
They haven't won consecutive friendly games since a run of four between March 2015 and March 2016. They are winless in 10 friendlies on home soil (D3 L7) since a 1-0 victory over Denmark in March 2016. Japan have scored four goals in each of their past two games against European nations (4-1 v Germany, 4-2 v Turkey) – the only non-European nation to score four-plus goals in three games in a row against European teams is Brazil (three games between 1950-52, four games from 1963-65).
Scott McTominay has 14 goals for Scotland, all scored in competitive internationals – he is yet to net in 11 friendlies. Only Robert Hamilton (15 goals in Home Nations games between 1899 and 1911) has more goals for the Scots without netting in a non-competitive game. Japan's Takefusa Kubo has assisted 16 goals in his past 25 international appearances, averaging an assist every 92 minutes.
He has also scored six goals in those 25 games, meaning he has a goal or assist every 67 minutes.