Overview
- Fiji surged with five tries across halftime to lead 33-10, featuring a Joji Nasova double and scores from Mesake Vocevoce and captain Tevita Ikanivere, before holding off Japan’s late rally.
- Discipline shaped the finish as Fiji played down to 13 men in the second half with yellow cards to Viliame Mata and Eroni Mawi, allowing Japan to close within six.
- The decider at America First Field marked the first Pacific Nations Cup final played in the United States.
- Tonga secured third place by defeating Canada 35-24, with Patrick Pellegrini scoring a hat-trick and 25 points total as Tonga rose to No. 17 in the world rankings and Canada stayed No. 24.
- Samoa and Chile drew 32-32 in the first leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff, with the return leg set for September 27 in Viña del Mar and a repechage in Dubai awaiting the loser.