Captain Ritsu Doan guides Japan to Kirin Cup glory in Tokyo

Japan defeated New Zealand 2-1 in Tokyo to win the Kirin Cup, led by captain and Eintracht Frankfurt winger Ritsu Doan. Lille forward Ayase Ueda opened the scoring for Japan in the first half before Saint-Étienne attacker Ben Old leveled the score for New Zealand. Doan subsequently scored the decisive winning goal 20 minutes before full-time in front of the home supporters.

Both teams had advanced to the final of the four-team friendly tournament through penalty shootouts, with Japan overcoming Ecuador and New Zealand beating Panama. Japan's winning squad featured several Bundesliga players, including Bayern Munich's Hiroki Ito and Mainz midfielder Kaishu Sano, marking the nation's first Kirin Cup title since the tournament's revival.