Four-time African champions Egypt suffered a setback in their opening match at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup, falling 2-0 to Japan in a tightly contested encounter.
Goals from Rion Ichihara and Hisatsugu Ishii were enough for the Asian side to silence the spirited Young Pharaohs at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos in Santiago.
Egypt, who finished fourth at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations, entered the tournament aiming to better their third-place finish from the 2001 edition in Argentina.
Both teams began brightly but squandered early chances before the more enterprising Japanese side broke the deadlock with a well-deserved lead on the half-hour mark.
Referee Darío Herrera awarded a penalty after ENPPI defender Seif Safaga brought down Shunsuke Saito inside the box, and Ichihara calmly sent goalkeeper Ahmed Waheb the wrong way from the spot.
Despite their best efforts to find an equaliser, Osama Nabieh’s men could not break through the resolute Asian defence.
Japan doubled their lead just three minutes after the restart when Ishii unleashed a long-range strike that left the goalkeeper with no chance, as Yuzo Funakoshi’s side made a flying start to the global football showpiece.
They have now found the net in seven straight U-20 World Cup openers. The last time they failed to score in their first match was a 2-0 loss to Australia at Argentina 2001, a tournament in which Egypt went on to finish third.
"We went through the Asian qualifier also on penalties, so I had confidence in taking it,” captain Ichihara said after the game.
“It was a penalty that my teammates earned, and I had the responsibility to score it as captain, but I hit it with confidence. We will continue doing the same things and win the next one too."
Egypt will look to bounce back against New Zealand in their next outing, while Japan can secure a place in the next round with a victory over hosts Chile.
