The men's soccer final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will once again pit South Korea against Japan. Japan advanced after beating Uzbekistan on penalties following a match that went to extra time. South Korea had already booked its place in the final by defeating China.
Japan drew 1-1 with Uzbekistan in the semifinal played on the 30th at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan. With the score still level after extra time, Japan won the shootout 9-8 to claim a spot in the final. The shootout ran all the way to the 10th kicker.
Japan had scored 12 goals across three group-stage matches without conceding, and extended that clean-sheet run with a 1-0 win over North Korea in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, however, the team was rattled by Uzbekistan's attack from the opening minutes.
Uzbekistan struck first in the ninth minute. After building the attack quickly down the left, a low pass into the box was finished by Sardorbek Bakhromov with his right foot. Japan fell behind earlier than expected.
Japan pressed forward in search of an equalizer but was repeatedly stopped by the Uzbek defense and struggled to find a way through. The breakthrough came only late in the second half.
In the 88th minute, Keita Kosugi delivered a cross from the left flank and Sena Ishibashi met it with a header. The ball went straight into the Uzbek net, leveling the score at 1-1.
Extra time failed to separate the two sides. Japan created several chances but could not add another goal, sending the match to a shootout.
The shootout did not end quickly either. Kickers from both teams converted in succession, keeping the tension high until the 10th round settled it. Uzbekistan's Kubonchbek Khushbaktov missed, confirming Japan's place in the final. Japan reached the final after a grueling 120 minutes plus penalties.
The result means the Asian Games men's soccer final will be a Korea-Japan match for the third consecutive tournament. South Korea beat Japan in the previous two finals to take gold.
South Korea had earlier beaten China 2-1 in the other semifinal. After conceding in the 22nd minute, Lee Young-jun equalized and Bae Jun-ho scored the go-ahead goal in the second half to send the team through.
South Korea and Japan will meet for the gold medal at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. South Korea is chasing a fourth straight men's soccer gold at the Games.
