Ayase Ueda scores twice in Japan’s 4-0 win against Tunisia in 1,000th men's World Cup match

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Japan moved one step closer to reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive time after pummeling Tunisia 4-0 in Group F.

Japan’s four goals were the most the Samurai Blue had ever scored in a World Cup game, as Japan comfortably dismantled a Tunisia side that became the first to ever fire its coach after the opening game.

Ayase Ueda scored twice, along with Daichi Kamada and Junya Itō to put Japan level with the Netherlands on four points. The Dutch are currently on top the group due to having scored one more goal than Japan across its two matches.

The loss for Tunisia means it is eliminated from the tournament. Japan are guaranteed at least third in the group, which could be enough to advance to the knockout stages.

Tunisia appointed two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner Hervé Renard to try and rescue the Eagles of Carthage after its humiliating 5-1 loss to Sweden, but the North African nation could not contain Japan’s speedy attack nor create any clear chances of their own.

Kamada opened the scoring in the fourth minute, the fastest in Japan’s World Cup history. The Crystal Palace midfielder was perfectly positioned for Keito Nakamura’s cross and barely had to move to tap in his second goal of the tournament.

In the 31st minute, Ayase Ueda received the ball in the midfield and drove toward the Tunisia box. When Ueda opted not to pass to a few advancing runners, any chance of a goal seemed lost — but the 27-year-old fired an angled shot from outside the box which flew into the left corner of the goal to make it 2-0.

The Feyenoord striker had an impressive club season with Feyenoord, scoring 24 goals in the Eredivisie to earn the league’s top scorer award.

In the 69th minute, Junya Itō slotted a third goal for Japan after a Ueda’s flick put Itō in a one-on-one with Tunisia’s goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen, which he finished calmly.

Ueda’s masterful looping header in the 83rd minute, his second of the night, capped off an impressive night for the Samurai Blue.

Japan, who have not lost to a European opponent in 90 minutes since 2019, will play against Sweden in Dallas on Thursday. Tunisia will play the Netherlands in Kansas City at the same time.

Ethan Wilcox is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Tunisia head coach Herve Renard looks on prior to the World Cup Group F soccer match between Tunisia and Japan in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen blocks a charge by Japan's Ayase Ueda during a World Cup Group F soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Junya Ito scores Japan's third goal past Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen during a World Cup Group F soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Japan's Ayase Ueda, center, scores their fourth goal with a header against Tunisia during the World Cup Group F soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Japan's Junya Ito scores his side's third goal against Tunisia during a World Cup Group F soccer match in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

PHOENIX (AP) — Byron Buxton hit a grand slam in a 10-run fifth inning and the Minnesota Twins clobbered the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-8 on Saturday night.

Buxton has 24 homers to tie Houston’s Yordan Alvarez for the American League lead. He has three career grand slams.

The Nos. 6-9 batters combined for 13 of the Twins' 20 hits, with Brooks Lee having four and missing a cycle by a home run. Victor Caratini, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kreider each had three hits.

The Twins had 16 hits in the fourth and fifth innings when they sent a combined 24 batters to the plate.

Minnesota started the fifth with three hits to chase Zac Gallen (3-6), who was charged with nine runs and 12 hits — both career highs — in four-plus innings to raise his ERA to 6.10.

Buxton’s home run, to right-center, came off Yilber Díaz, who gave up seven hits and seven runs. He threw 44 pitches and recorded two outs. Philip Abner relieved and got the final out of the inning.

Taj Bradley (6-3) went five innings, giving up three hits and two runs — both on Jorge Barrosa’s second homer of the season. The Twins have won five of their last six games.

Ildemaro Vargas’ three-run double was the big hit in the Diamondbacks’ five-run seventh against reliever Justin Lawrence.

Vargas, who entered mid-game for defense as both teams went to the benches, eventually finished the game on the mound for Arizona, pitching 1 2/3 hitless innings.

Minnesota's Mike Paredes (0-0, 4.20) was set to face Arizona's José Cabrera, making his MLB debut, in the series finale Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa (1) celebrates his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins pitcher Taj Bradley works against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Brooks Lee, center, gets high fives from teammates after scoring a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton (25) celebrates after hitting a grand slam with teammates Josh Bell (56) and Ryan Kreidler (5) in the fifth inning of a baseball game against Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, right, hits a grand slam in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game Saturday, June 20, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)