Zion Suzuki set to return in Japan goal against Venezuela

Zion Suzuki has returned to full training after a rib injury and is expected to come back into Japan’s goal for the Kirin Challenge Cup 2026 friendly against Venezuela at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on Monday.

Suzuki boost for Japan before Hiroshima friendly

Japan host Venezuela in Hiroshima in a fixture that comes after their round of 32 exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and during a wider selection phase for Hajime Moriyasu.

Moriyasu is using the match to widen his pool of options before next January’s AFC Asian Cup.

The game is described in the preview as the fifth international meeting between the two nations, while the same head-to-head section also says five previous meetings have produced three draws, one Japan win awarded after Venezuela fielded a suspended player in 2014, and one 4-1 Venezuela victory at the 2019 Kirin Challenge Cup.

Japan arrive in Hiroshima after beating Uruguay 3-1 at the Q&A Stadium in Miyagi on Thursday, a result that spoiled Diego Forlan’s first match in charge of La Celeste.

That victory gave Moriyasu a platform to build a new-look squad around senior figures such as Ritsu Doan and Daichi Kamada.

The win also came less than three months after Japan’s World Cup campaign ended in defeat to Brazil in the first knockout round.

How Japan beat Uruguay

Kuryu Matsuki opened the scoring in the 11th minute against Uruguay with a low, left-footed finish.

The goal was set up by a cross-field pass from Keito Nakamura.

Maxi Araujo brought Uruguay level in the 42nd minute.

Japan had to wait until second-half stoppage time for the decisive moments in Miyagi.

Kento Shiogai converted a quick wall pass to restore Japan’s lead.

Ayase Ueda then followed up soon after with a finish from more than 35 yards.

Ueda, now with LOSC Lille, has 19 goals in 44 appearances for the Samurai Blue.

That return keeps Ueda as Japan’s first choice through the middle regardless of who else starts.

Moriyasu tests a wider Japan pool

This four-match international window is also an audition for the Asian Cup squad.

Uncapped players including Kaina Tanimura, Shuto Nakano and Shunsuke Saito have been handed their first senior call-ups this month.

Moriyasu named a 31-man squad built around the twenty players who featured at the World Cup.

Takefusa Kubo, Ao Tanaka and Junya Ito are all available for selection.

Crystal Palace defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the match.

The Japan Football Association confirmed on Wednesday that a calf injury would rule Tomiyasu out of both Kirin Challenge Cup fixtures as well as October’s Kirin Cup matches.

The injury was picked up in Palace’s goalless draw with Leeds United.

Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki missed the Uruguay win entirely because of a rib injury carried into camp from Aston Villa.

Suzuki returned to full training with the group on Friday.

He is now expected to be restored in goal ahead of Tomoki Hayakawa, who deputised in Miyagi.

Venezuela resume after Iraq win

Oswaldo Vizcarrondo’s Venezuela head to Hiroshima having not played since a 2-0 win away to Iraq on June 9.

Cristian Casseres and Jesus Ramirez scored either side of half time in that win.

The three-month gap in Venezuela’s schedule is by design rather than accident.

Vizcarrondo named a 34-man squad for a wider Asian tour.

That tour continues against South Korea on October 2 and Jordan on October 6.

Venezuela’s most recent results before that trip to the United States were a 1-2 loss to Turkiye and a goalless draw with Uzbekistan settled on penalties.

Both of those results came at the end of March.

Consistency remains a work in progress under Vizcarrondo.

Vizcarrondo keeps focus on development

Vizcarrondo was promoted from caretaker to permanent head coach in January.

He remains focused on squad development rather than results alone.

Vizcarrondo was capped more than 80 times as a centre-back during his own playing career.

Venezuela have never reached a FIFA World Cup.

A friendly against a side that beat Uruguay four days earlier offers a genuine measuring stick for Venezuela.

The squad is still built around Real Sociedad midfielder Yangel Herrera and Inter Miami’s Telasco Segovia.

Vizcarrondo has again omitted the experienced trio of Salomon Rondon, Yeferson Soteldo and Jefferson Savarino.

That continues a selection policy he has held since the FIFA Series matches against Iraq and Turkey earlier this year.

For Venezuela, midfielder Daniel Pereira, who plays his club football for CF Montreal, is part of the 34-man squad.

Pereira is a doubt to start because of a fitness concern.

With Rondon, Soteldo and Savarino left out again, attacking responsibility falls on David Martinez, Jesus Ramirez and Kevin Kelsy.

None of those three carry Rondon’s record of 50 international goals.

West Ham United winger Keiber Lamadrid was left out of the squad entirely because of injury when Vizcarrondo made his announcement on September 15.

That leaves Nahuel Ferraresi and Teo Quintero as the senior options at the back.

Form points towards Japan

Japan have lost only once in their past five matches.

That defeat was the round of 32 exit to Brazil.

Either side of that result, Japan beat Tunisia 4-0, drew with the Netherlands and Sweden, and returned to winning ways against Uruguay.

That run has brought 11 goals scored and six conceded.

History offers little in the way of a clear favourite between Japan and Venezuela.

The head-to-head record cited in the preview includes three draws.

It also includes one Japan win awarded after Venezuela fielded a suspended player in 2014.

It further includes one 4-1 Venezuela victory at the 2019 Kirin Challenge Cup.

On that basis, the preview says recent momentum rather than head-to-head record should decide this one in the hosts’ favour.

Team news and possible lineups

Japan’s main confirmed absentee is Takehiro Tomiyasu because of the calf injury confirmed by the Japan Football Association.

Suzuki’s return to full training changes the goalkeeping picture after Hayakawa deputised against Uruguay.

Japan’s probable lineup is listed as Suzuki; Itakura, H. Ito, Seko; J. Ito, Tanaka, Kaishu Sano, Doan; Kamada, Kubo; Ueda.

Venezuela’s squad picture is shaped by the absences of Rondon, Soteldo, Savarino and Lamadrid.

Pereira is in the squad but is a doubt to start because of a fitness concern.

Venezuela’s probable lineup is listed as Varela; Ferraresi, Balbo, Quintero, Sanchez; Libra, Herrera; Mendoza, Segovia, Martinez; Ramirez.

For Japan, the match is another chance to test the wider group assembled around World Cup players and new senior call-ups.

For Venezuela, it is part of a deliberate Asian tour designed around a 34-man squad and ongoing development under Vizcarrondo.

The immediate contest in Hiroshima therefore brings together a Japan side with fresh momentum from the Uruguay win and a Venezuela side restarting after the Iraq victory and a planned three-month pause.