Ayase Ueda

Ayase Ueda is a Japanese striker who scored twice and contributed an assist as Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 in Monterrey on 20 June 2026, the 1,000th match in World Cup history. His goals in that milestone match were central to Japan's statement performance in the group stage.

Ueda has been a prolific scorer in European club football, operating as a centre-forward with sharp positional instincts and a reliable finish with both feet. He has been one of the more consistent strikers produced by Japan since the generation that reached the 2022 World Cup knockout stage. His club career has taken him through Belgium, where he built his reputation as a goalscorer at the top of the domestic leagues.

Japan's performance against Tunisia underlined the depth of the 2026 squad and their ability to dominate matches. Ueda's role as the focal point of that attack, in a historic match, raised his profile as one of Asia's leading forwards at the tournament.