We’re getting closer to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with many participating countries indulging in some last-ditch friendlies before the big kick-off.

There could be some significant takeaways for Fantasy managers from these friendlies – and we’ll be producing some brief Scout Notes from each of these kickabouts over the next two weeks.

We continue with seven more friendlies contested on Sunday 31 May.

• READ MORE: Fantasy FIFA World Cup 2026 friendlies: $3.5m Gordon starts + Son brace
• READ MORE: Fantasy FIFA World Cup 2026 ultimate guide: Best players, tips, team reveals + more

JAPAN 1-0 Iceland

(31st May)

• Goals: Ogawa
• Assists: Sugawara

NOTES

• Japan’s extremely strong starting XI is probably close to their World Cup starting XI. Kaoru Mitoma is injured and won’t make the World Cup, but they have enough depth to replace him well.
• Japan were largely dominant: more possession, won 15-9 on attempts, 2-0 for big chances.
• A solid performance and clean sheet for Samurai Blue.
• It’s no surprise that wing back Nakamura (a midfielder in the game, frustratingly) was very good, making one key pass and four attempts on goal.
• Endo, Doan, Ito and Ueda – four players who are absolutely key for Japan – each played 45 minutes. None of them did much of note.
• Kubo, arguably their best attacker during the qualifiers, played 83 minutes. He put two shots on goal and produced four key passes, again showing his creativity. Ogawa scored a goal off the bench; his cameos will be vital.
• Also excellent was Sugawara. He registered an assist, had one shot on goal, set up two big chances and made four key passes, but probably won’t get in Japan’s starting XI.

SWITZERLAND 4-1 JORDAN

(31st May)

• Goals: Embolo, Ndoye, Xhaka, Fassnacht – Fakhouri
• Assists: Freuler, Aebischer, Embolo – Tamari

NOTES

• We actually saw a Swiss back three here, but most of the expected starting XI started this game.
• Kobel has been ill recently. He was on the bench and didn’t feature, like Rieder and Okafor.
• Widmer and Rodriguez started off the bench. They’re a concern, should the formation change. Such experimentation is far from ideal.
• Interestingly, Embolo and Xhaka took a penalty. This doubt probably makes Embolo more appealing and Xhaka less so.
• But even with the system change, Switzerland dominated possession, scored four times, had six big chances and 19 shots. They look confident.
• Zakaria, Elvedi, Ndoye, Freuler, Manzambi and Vargas each played 45 minutes.
• Ndoye scored and shot twice, Manzambi had three shots and hit the woodwork, while Vargas produced two key passes.
• Xhaka played 61 minutes, scored a penalty, had two attempts and two key passes
• Embolo played 71 minutes, scored a penalty, earned another, had three shots on target, missed a big chance and produced four key passes. He was the standout performer.
• As for Jordan, this was also a strong XI, so this defeat raises some concerns.
• The fact that their forward called for a tactical change after the first goal, against the manager’s wishes, for them to then concede three more, says it all.
• Yet they still racked up three big chances and 12 shots on goal. They just weren’t as clinical and had very little possession. But conceding six big chances is a problem.
• First team attacker Tamari was their best player, having assisted, put three shots on goal, one on target, made two key passes and accumulated two missed big chances.
• Fakhoury was also very good off the bench. He scored, put three shots on goal and two on target, alongside one big chance created and two key passes.
• There were worrying signs for Jordan in defence, though.

CZECHIA 2-1 Kosovo

(31st May)

• Goals: Ladra, Hlozek
• Assists: Doudera, Chytil

NOTES

• Czechia started this game without many expected World Cup starters, just Krejci, Hranac and Chaloupek.
• Some key players like Holes, Zeleny and Jurasek did feature off the bench, though. Goalkeeper Kovar remained unused.
• Players who weren’t in the match squad but are in the final World Cup squad: Soucek, Provod, Schick, Coufal, Darida and Sulc.
• Therefore, this wasn’t seen as a primary game for player preparation.
• There’s also a lack of data on this one, but we can’t read too much into it anyway, knowing how many first-team players weren’t involved.

CAPE VERDE 3-0 Serbia

(31st May)

• Goals: Lenini, Duarte, Benchimol
• Assists: Mendes, Varela, Duarte

NOTES

• Key players who started the game were Vozinha, Diney, S Cabral, Lenini, Arcanjo, Mendes and Monteiro.
• Off the bench came Semedo, Livramento and the legend that is Stopira.
• They didn’t start with their predicted XI, but we saw most of it during the game, in their usual formation.
• Cape Verde had higher possession and one more shot (10) than Serbia, in addition to four more attempts on target. Both sides had similar expected goals (xG) tallies, so there was an over-performance.
• It should be noted that this was a weak-ish Serbia side.

GERMANY 4-0 Finland

(31st May)

• Goals: Undav (x2), Wirtz, Musiala
• Assists: Kimmich, Undav, Karl, Pavlovic

NOTES

• This was mostly first team, or at least what we’d expect from a starting XI in the World Cup.
• Baumann (GK) started; Neuer wasn’t in the squad as he’s struggling with a calf injury.
• 3/4 defence was as expected outside of Raum (LB), who didn’t feature at all. The manager sang Brown‘s praises in 1v1 situations and pace.
• Goretzka (CM) didn’t feature at all, while Karl started ahead of Sane on the left wing. The latter eventually came on in the second half. There are concerns over rotation in that position, although others are more convinced Karl will start.
• Musiala and Wirtz started; both will be absolutely key for Germany, no doubt.
• Undav started ahead of Havertz, who is predicted to start. Havertz missed out due to just being involved in the Champions League final. Undav impressed but picked up a thigh injury. Realistically, he wasn’t going to be a Fantasy option anyway.
• We also saw Woltemade feature. Rudiger, Anton and Thiaw all didn’t feature, but they have depth in the centre-back position.
• Very dominant from Germany, with four goals, seven big chances, 22 shots on goal, 10 corners.
• Kimmich was a top performer, taking corners, creating two big chances and making four key passes.
• Wirtz was also good: a goal, with six shots on goal, of which three were on target. More goal threat than creativity.
• Karl was fantastic: one big created, four key passes and three shots, including one that hit the woodwork.
• Sane and Woltemade were poor when they came on.
• Great win for Germany, with maybe some doubt over 2-3 positions.

UNITED STATES 3-2 SENEGAL

(31st May)

• Goals: Dest, Pulisic, Balogun – Mane (x2)
• Assists: Pulisic, Pepi, Weah – Diarra, Jackson

NOTES

• Arguably USA’s best friendly of pre-World Cup so far. They went with a back three.
• Turner (GK) started and Matt Freese was an unused sub; there’s still some doubt over who starts between the two.
• Robinson (LB/LWB) and Dest (RB/RWB) both started and were very advanced. Ream and Freeman (CB), both key players, started. Chris Richards is still recovering and hoping to be fit for the start of the tournament.
• Adams (CM) started and is the most sure starter in central midfield. Pulisic and Pepi, also key players, started, too.
• Key names coming off the bench included Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Balogun.
• USA had less possession than Senegal, but similar xG.
• A goalkeeper mistake didn’t help their cause and, as expected, they were a bit dodgy at the back but good in attack. Robinson had one key pass and one shot, while Dest scored and got one key pass. Both wing-backs played just 45 minutes, though.
• Pulisic played 45 minutes but scored and assisted.
• Balogan played the second half and scored, along with having four attempts.
• Edouard Mendy (GK) wasn’t involved for Senegal.
• Jakobs started ahead of Diouf (LB) but both had 45 minutes each.
• None of the first-team centre-backs started. Koulibaly is recovering from injury but the coach is optimistic he’ll recover.
• Central midfield wasn’t first team, either, but Mane, Ndiaye and Sarr all started in the front four.
• Pape Gueye and Pape Sarr came off the bench.
• Mane got two goals from as many shots. Ndiaye played 70 mins, registering one big chance created and one shot on target, while Jackson got his assist, missed a big chance, and made two key passes.
• Senegal were of course short of hugely significant players in defence, so expect better in the long-term.

BRAZIL 6-2 PANAMA

(31st May)

• Goals: Vini Jr, Casemiro, Rayan, Paqueta, Thiago, Oliveira – Harvey
• Assists: Casemiro, Vini Jr, Thiago (x2), Santos

NOTES

• Brazil scored six goals from seven big chances and 20 shots on goal, but they also conceded two goals and 16 shots.
• Alisson started and played 45 minutes.
• Sandro started at LB, as we expect, while Marquinhos and Gabriel (CB) both missed out as they just played in the Champions League final.
• No surprises at Bruno and Casemiro starting in central midfield.
• Then it was a front starting four of Raphinha, Cunha, Vini and Henrique; again, no major surprises.
• Casemiro was excellent: one goal, one assist, one shot on and one key pass. Vini also: one goal, one assist, one big chance created, two key passes, three shots, two on target. Both players only featured for 45 minutes.
• Raphinha had one key pass, three shots and one big chance missed; he also played just 45 minutes.
• Cunha and Henrique didn’t do much at all.
• Paqueta was brilliant off the bench, with one goal, one assist, four big chances created, four key passes and two attempts on goal. Arguably, he was the best player on the pitch/
• Thiago scored and assisted. He registered two shots on goal, missed a big chance, and made two key passes.
• Rayan also did well in his 45 minutes, scoring and racking up three shots.
• Busy game in general, with everyone getting a decent amount of minutes.
• Panama recording 45% possession v Brazil is not bad at all. They also had 16 shots
• It was a back 3 as expected, with first-choice goalkeeper Mosquera and most of the regulars in defence starting. They were terrible!
• Key central midfielders didn’t start the game but Waterman led the attack, which was expected.
• Conceding seven big chances to a Brazil side that rotated their attackers is a concern.