Japan U20 vs USA U20 – JWC 2026 13th Place Semifinal Match Preview

rugbyasia247 Posted On July 11, 2026

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Japan U20 vs USA U20 – JWC 2026 13th Place Semifinal Match Preview

Japan U20s will face the USA in the 13th-place semi-finals on Sunday, 12th July, in Tbilisi at the Junior World Championship, still chasing their first win at JWC 2026.

Photo Credit – World Rugby – Japan vs Scotland – JWC 2026

The Japanese finished the pool stage at the bottom of Pool B after losses to New Zealand, Italy and Scotland, but they were competitive in all three matches and could not put in 80-minute performances. In each loss, they had momentum shifts go against them, in which they leaked points too easily and fought back against higher-ranked opposition.

Their opposition in Sunday’s game also suffered three defeats in pool play: against England, Argentina, and Ireland.

The 13th place semifinal against the USA will now be their target, with the winners set to face the victor between Spain and Uruguay.

Japan and the USA have faced each other once before at this level, but it was when most of these players were in diapers, a Japanese 44-8 win in 2008. The Japanese record is not great overall – three wins in their 33 matches at the Junior World Championship and a 19-match losing streak.

Their defence has been porous in Georgia again (they have conceded 30+in their past 9 matches), but they can score points too. They have scored at least 20 points in each of their last five matches at this level.

Photo Credit – JRFU Japan U20 – JWC 2026

USA’s stats dont make for much better reading – they have lost all 13 of their matches at the Junior World Championship by an average margin of 49 points.

Japan’s discipline has been great, and they have yet to receive any card and have conceded the fewest penalties at the tournament, with the USA conceding the second least – so it’s got the potential for a free-flowing and entertaining match.

One player who might be keen to see Japan achieve a rare win is centre Rio Iwakura. At JWC he has made the most carries (37) and is first for metres in contact (74). For the USA, according to the stats, Papaseea Matelau has been their talisman.