Koki Ogawa's 87th-minute header saw Japan see off Iceland 1-0 in their final game before the World Cup.

A low-key encounter at MUFG Stadium did not provide much excitement, but Japan, who are set to make their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, got the job done in the end.

Three Japanese players were involved in 10+ goals in the qualifiers for the World Cup: Takefusa Kubo (12), Junya Ito (11) and Ayase Ueda (10), though that trio could not break through a stubborn Iceland defence.

Ito and Ueda made way at half-time, and it was the latter's replacement that grabbed Japan's winner.

Yukinari Sugawara delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank, and Ogawa stooped low to send his header in off the right-hand post.

Japan's victory tees them up to head to North America on a high note. They will take on the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F.

Data Debrief: Japan must sharpen up in front of goal

Japan may have breezed through qualifying, but if they are to go on a deep run in the finals, having never previously gone beyond the last 16, then they will need to be slicker in the final third.

They had 15 attempts and got seven on target, yet Iceland's Hakon Valdimarsson stood firm. 

And the quality of chances Japan created was not particularly high, given they only accumulated 1.03 expected goals.

Wing-back Keito Nakamura led the way for shots (four), and Hajime Moriyasu will want his star forwards more involved when the World Cup fixtures roll around.