Harry Kane missed England’s defeat to Japan after picking up a minor injury in training.
Harry Kane was absent from the England squad in their 1-0 defeat to Japan after suffering a minor injury in training. The striker had been expected to start but did not feature at all in the matchday squad.
According to reports, the issue is not believed to be serious, offering some reassurance for both club and country. The 32-year-old is currently undergoing further assessment to determine the extent of the problem.
The English Football Association confirmed that Kane picked up the knock during training and is being monitored by medical staff. His withdrawal came as a surprise given he had trained normally prior to the setback.
🚨 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Harry Kane is OUT of the game for England tonight due to physical issues.
Bayern Munich face Real Madrid in exactly 7 days from now. pic.twitter.com/02pjU66q18
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) March 31, 2026
England head coach Thomas Tuchel explained that the injury occurred unexpectedly. He revealed that Kane had to leave training early after just 15 minutes and was immediately ruled out of the fixture.
Tuchel described the issue as minor but significant enough to prevent the forward from taking part. He added that further checks would be carried out before any decision is made on his availability for upcoming matches.
The absence of England’s captain was felt as the team struggled to break down Japan. Without their leading scorer, the Three Lions lacked cutting edge in attack and ultimately slipped to a narrow defeat.
There will also be concern at club level, with Bayern Munich monitoring the situation closely ahead of their return to action. The Bundesliga leaders are scheduled to face SC Freiburg on Saturday, and Kane’s fitness will be a key talking point in the build-up.
