New Zealand lose 4-0 to hosts Japan in last game at international tournament

New Zealand have lost their third match at the U-17 men’s International Youth Soccer Tournament, beaten 4-0 by hosts Japan.

The sides were deadlocked 0-0 at half-time in Niigata but Japan finished strongly to take the win, and take top spot in the tournament.

Second-half substitutes made the difference for Japan, led by FC Tokyo’s Wataru Ito, who came off the bench to score a double.

New Zealand, who were using the tournament to prepare for November’s FIFA U-17 Men’s World Cup in Qatar, finished bottom of the four-team table.

They lost their earlier games 3-2 to a Niigata regional rep team and 2-0 to Myanmar.

Main photo: New Zealand … lost their final tournament match 4-0 to Japan.

Watch the match

Click on the image below to watch a replay of the game:

New Zealand squad

Tomas Blackhall — Melville United / Hamilton Boys’ High School, New Zealand
Luke Carter — Western Springs / Avondale College, New Zealand
Zach Ashmore — Wellington Phoenix / Scots College, New Zealand
Grayson Cattle — Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand
Jack Clegg — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Willem des Tombe — Wellington Phoenix / St Patrick’s College, New Zealand
Gethyn Foster — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Cailean Hamilton — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Sean Kane — Auckland FC / St Kentigern, New Zealand
Lachlan MacIntyre — Brentford FC / Elthorne Park High School, England
William Martin — Queensland Lions / Ipswich Grammar School, Australia
Joseph McIntyre — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Matias Nunez — Auckland United / Rutherford College, New Zealand
Cruz Pietersen — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Keigo Shimokawa — Melbourne Victory / Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, Australia
Zac Thomas — Bohemian FC / Castleknock Community College, Ireland
Ben Trenberth — Wellington Phoenix / New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, New Zealand
Sena Vesty — Christchurch United / Burnside High School, New Zealand

Results

Games played on Monday September 21, 2026

New Zealand 0
Japan 4 (scorers to come)

Myanmar 0
Niigata 2 (scorers to come)

International Youth Soccer Tournament

Team
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Japan 3 3 0 0 10 2 8 9 Niigata 3 2 0 1 5 4 1 6 Myanmar 3 1 0 2 4 6 -2 3 New Zealand 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0

This story was first published on September 21, 2026.