Japan Clinches EAFF E-1 Football Championship With Narrow Win Over South Korea
Japan's Steely Performance Secures Another EAFF E-1 Title
Sometimes a single goal tells the whole story. That was the case in Yongin on July 15, 2025, as Japan edged South Korea 1-0 to lock in their second straight EAFF E-1 Football Championship. The packed stadium felt every moment, with nearly 18,500 people watching Japan’s disciplined squad hold off their fierce rivals.
Right from the start, Japan looked sharp. In just the eighth minute, striker Ryo Germain once again delivered where it counted, smashing a volley into the net after a sharp cross from Yuki Soma. That goal was Germain's fifth in the tournament, proving his knack for clinical finishing and giving coach Hajime Moriyasu even more reason to trust his rising stars from the local J-League.
South Korea, still reeling from missing key players like Son Heung-min, tried everything. They threw wave after wave of attacks at the Japanese backline. But regardless of who was missing, the pressure was real. Japan’s defense worked as a unit, closing gaps and frustrating South Korea’s attackers. Keeper Zion Suzuki made sure nothing slipped through, organizing his line and pulling off a couple of crucial stops. The Samurai Blue have now won three straight head-to-head matches over their rivals, a feat never before achieved in this storied rivalry.
Dominance in the Group, Future Ambitions
The rest of the tournament only highlighted how much Japan has grown as a team. Their campaign kicked off with a 6-1 walloping of Hong Kong, a game that left neutrals impressed with their creativity and energy. Against China, they controlled play and won comfortably, 2-0. By the time they met South Korea, the squad was firing on all cylinders.
For South Korea, it wasn’t all gloom. Even without household names, they dispatched China 3-0 and comfortably handled Hong Kong 2-0 earlier in the tournament. Finishing as runners-up showed they still have depth, but the rivalry with Japan continues to sting, especially in front of a big home crowd in Yongin Mireu Stadium.
With three E-1 titles, Japan is catching up, though South Korea still leads with five. The result was more than just another piece of silverware. With both squads already set for the 2026 World Cup, managers used this stage to assess talent and strategy. Moriyasu now has a real headache—in a good way—with several J-League standouts making a strong case for a place in his World Cup squad.
The energy in the stadium was intense, fans on edge, knowing both teams are on their way to global football’s biggest stage. With this latest chapter, the Japan-South Korea football rivalry is very much alive—and with World Cup spots secured, both nations are turning their eyes to an even bigger prize.