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Iraq vs Japan head-to-head record

Iraq wins
3
Draws
3
Japan wins
7

13 meetings, 1978 to 2024Goals: Iraq 10, Japan 19

Iraq and Japan have met 13 times since 1978. Japan have won 7, Iraq 3, and 3 matches ended level. They last met on 19 January 2024, when Iraq won 2–1 at the AFC Asian Cup.

The 13 meetings have produced 29 goals, 2.23 per game. The biggest win is Japan’s 4–0 in the Kirin Challenge Cup in 2015.

Who has won more, Iraq or Japan?

All matches13 matches

3 Iraq3 drawsJapan 7

Competitive12 matches

3 Iraq3 drawsJapan 6

Friendlies1 match

0 Iraq0 drawsJapan 1

Key numbers

Goals
Iraq 10, Japan 192.23 per game
First meeting
Iraq 0–0 JapanMerdeka Tournament, 13 Jul 1978
Most recent
Iraq 2–1 JapanAFC Asian Cup, 19 Jan 2024
Iraq’s biggest win
Iraq 2–0 JapanMerdeka Tournament, 18 Sept 1981
Japan’s biggest win
Japan 4–0 IraqKirin Challenge Cup, 11 Jun 2015
Most goals in a meeting
Japan 4–1 IraqAFC Asian Cup, 24 Oct 2000
Biggest upset
Iraq 2–1 JapanAFC Asian Cup, 19 Jan 2024Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 18%
TFN Elo rating now
Iraq 1652 (70th), Japan 1963 (13th)How the rating works

Last five meetings

  1. Iraq2Japan1

    AFC Asian Cup

    Al Rayyan, Qatar (neutral)

  2. Iraq1Japan1

    World Cup qualifying

    Tehran, Iran (neutral)

  3. Japan2Iraq1

    World Cup qualifying

    Saitama, Japan

  4. Japan4Iraq0

    Kirin Challenge Cup

    Yokohama, Japan

  5. Iraq0Japan1

    AFC Asian Cup

    Brisbane, Australia (neutral)

Who has had the upper hand over time?

The line climbs with every Iraq win and drops with every Japan win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.

Above the line: Iraq have won more Below: Japan have won more
13 July 1978: Iraq 0–0 Japan (Merdeka Tournament). Level18 September 1981: Iraq 2–0 Japan (Merdeka Tournament). Iraq +128 November 1982: Japan 0–1 Iraq (Asian Games). Iraq +228 October 1993: Iraq 2–2 Japan (World Cup qualifying). Iraq +224 October 2000: Japan 4–1 Iraq (AFC Asian Cup). Iraq +112 February 2004: Japan 2–0 Iraq (Friendly). Level11 September 2012: Japan 1–0 Iraq (World Cup qualifying). Japan +111 June 2013: Iraq 0–1 Japan (World Cup qualifying). Japan +216 January 2015: Iraq 0–1 Japan (AFC Asian Cup). Japan +311 June 2015: Japan 4–0 Iraq (Kirin Challenge Cup). Japan +46 October 2016: Japan 2–1 Iraq (World Cup qualifying). Japan +513 June 2017: Iraq 1–1 Japan (World Cup qualifying). Japan +519 January 2024: Iraq 2–1 Japan (AFC Asian Cup). Japan +4Level
Japan lead by 4 wins after the latest meeting. The biggest lead was 5, held by Japan from 6 October 2016.

Every meeting on one timeline

Larger dots mark bigger winning margins. Hover a dot for the result.

Home, away and neutral

In Japan's home games

4 matches

004

IraqDrawsJapan

At neutral venues

9 matches

333

IraqDrawsJapan

Record by competition

Record by competition
CompetitionPlayedIraqDrawsJapanGoals
World Cup qualifying50234–7
AFC Asian Cup31023–6
Merdeka Tournament21102–0
Asian Games11001–0
Friendly10010–2
Kirin Challenge Cup10010–4

Meetings by decade

Iraq wins Draws Japan wins
Meetings by decade
DecadeResultsPlayedGoals
1970s10
1980s23
1990s14
2000s27
2010s612
2020s13

Longest runs

Longest runs
Longest run ofIraqJapan
Wins in a row21981 to 198272000 to 2016
Unbeaten meetings41978 to 199391993 to 2017

Top scorers in Iraq vs Japan

  1. 1Aymen HusseinIraq2
  2. 2Hiroshi NanamiJapan2

Scorer records exist for 8 of the 13 meetings, mostly competitive matches. Own goals are not credited to a player.

Questions answered

How many times have Iraq and Japan played each other?

13 times, starting on 13 July 1978. 12 of those meetings were competitive and 1 were friendlies.

Who has won more matches between Iraq and Japan?

Japan, with 7 wins to 3. 3 matches ended level.

What is the biggest win in Iraq vs Japan?

Japan’s 4–0 win in the Kirin Challenge Cup on 11 June 2015 in Yokohama.

When did Iraq and Japan last play?

On 19 January 2024 in Al Rayyan, when Iraq won 2–1 at the AFC Asian Cup.

What is the competitive record between Iraq and Japan?

In 12 competitive matches, Iraq have 3 wins, Japan have 6, and 3 ended level.

JustFootballGearAdWear the colours on the day.National team kits for Iraq and Japan, plus the training gear to go with them.Browse the kits

Every Iraq vs Japan result

Show
Every Iraq vs Japan result
DateHomeScoreAwayCompetitionVenue
Iraq2–1JapanAFC Asian CupAl Rayyan, Qatar (neutral)
Iraq1–1JapanWorld Cup qualifyingTehran, Iran (neutral)
Japan2–1IraqWorld Cup qualifyingSaitama, Japan
Japan4–0IraqKirin Challenge CupYokohama, Japan
Iraq0–1JapanAFC Asian CupBrisbane, Australia (neutral)
Iraq0–1JapanWorld Cup qualifyingDoha, Qatar (neutral)
Japan1–0IraqWorld Cup qualifyingSaitama, Japan
Japan2–0IraqFriendlyTokyo, Japan
Japan4–1IraqAFC Asian CupBeirut, Lebanon (neutral)
Iraq2–2JapanWorld Cup qualifyingDoha, Qatar (neutral)
Japan0–1IraqAsian GamesNew Delhi, India (neutral)
Iraq2–0JapanMerdeka TournamentKuala Lumpur, Malaysia (neutral)
Iraq0–0JapanMerdeka TournamentKuala Lumpur, Malaysia (neutral)

Recent form

Iraq

  1. Lat Saudi ArabiaGulf Cup0–2Tue 29 Sept 2026
  2. Wv KuwaitGulf Cup3–2Sat 26 Sept 2026
  3. Dv OmanGulf Cup1–1Wed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Lv SenegalWorld Cup0–5Fri 26 Jun 2026
  5. Lv FranceWorld Cup0–3Mon 22 Jun 2026

Japan

  1. Wv New ZealandKirin Cup2–1Mon 5 Oct 2026
  2. Dv EcuadorKirin Cup0–0Thu 1 Oct 2026
  3. Wv VenezuelaFriendly2–1Mon 28 Sept 2026
  4. Lv BrazilWorld Cup1–2Mon 29 Jun 2026
  5. Dv SwedenWorld Cup1–1Thu 25 Jun 2026

Results through 6 October 2026. Page updated 3 November 2026. How these numbers are calculated.