Tunisian Ambassador Ahmed Chaffra said Japan is one of the teams capable of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday [1].

The diplomatic gesture highlights the use of international sporting events to strengthen bilateral ties between North African and East Asian nations.

Chaffra hosted a viewing party for the match between Japan and Tunisia at his official residence in Tokyo [1]. He was joined by supporters and Hirari Melez, the president of the Japan-Tunisia Friendship Association [1]. The gathering aimed to support the Tunisian national team, while deepening the friendship between the two countries [1].

Before the match began, the attendees shared their score predictions. Chaffra said he expected a draw with a score of 0-0 or 1-1 [1]. Melez said he believed the match would end in a 2-2 draw because he supported both teams [1].

Despite those predictions, Japan won the match 4-0 [1]. Following the result, Chaffra praised the Japanese team's performance and congratulated them on the victory [1].

"Japan was a strong team. Congratulations truly," Chaffra said [1].

While acknowledging that Tunisia would not advance further in the tournament, the ambassador expressed a desire for his team to perform well in their next match [1]. He said that he and his supporters would now shift their focus to cheering for the Japanese team as they progress in the competition [1].

"Japan is one of the teams that can aim for the championship," Chaffra said [1].

“Japan is one of the teams that can aim for the championship”

The ambassador's public endorsement of Japan's championship potential serves as a form of 'soft diplomacy.' By framing a decisive 4-0 defeat as an opportunity to praise a partner nation, Tunisia utilizes the global platform of the FIFA World Cup to maintain positive diplomatic optics and reinforce cultural ties with Japan.