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Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu. | Credit: Getty Images
The Japan World Cup 2026 squad is taking shape and people are starting to pay attention.
Japan go into World Cup 2026 as one of the dark horses after an impressive tournament four years ago and successive wins over Scotland and England in March. They will have one of the most exciting squads at the tournament, with household names from across Europe.
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Currently ranked 18th in the world, Samurai Blue have beaten Germany twice, Brazil and England – all above them in the FIFA World Rankings and usually regarded among the World Cup favourites – since 2022.
Japanese football is developing young talents at pace but Wataru Endo heads up a squad with plenty of experience. The captain missed out on Hajime Moriyasu’s latest selection, which featured familiar names from the top leagues in Europe and three Premier League stars: Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace, Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka and Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.
With the likes of Takefusa Kubo to return to the fold and Sota Kitano, Kota Takai and Ryunosuke Sato coming through, Moriyasu and Japan’s desire to be considered a potential threat in the summer is well founded.
Sato of FC Tokyo was the only outfield player from the J.League to be included in Moriyasu’s squad to face Scotland and England in March. The others were Keisuke Osako and Tomoki Hayakawa, understudies to Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
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After back-to-back appearances in the round of 16, Japan are eager to go at least one better in 2026. If their friendly results are any indication, they’ve got every chance. They’ll look good doing it too – their new home kit is a beauty.
SquadJapan World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection
GK: Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
GK: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
DF: Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen)
DF: Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden)
DF: Ayumu Seko (Le Havre)
DF: Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord)
DF: Daiki Hashioka (Gent)
DF: Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich)
DF: Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)
MF: Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli)
MF: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion)
MF: Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt)
MF: Keito Nakamura (Reims)
MF: Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace)
MF: Ao Tanaka (Leeds United)
MF: Kodai Sano (NEC Nijmegen)
MF: Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05)
MF: Ryunosuke Sato (FC Tokyo)
FW: Yuito Suzuki (SC Freiburg)
FW: Shuto Machino (Borussia Monchengladbach)
FW: Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
FW: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord)
FW: Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen)
FW: Kento Shiogai (VfL Wolfsburg)
FW: Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)
Fixtures
June 26, 2026: Japan vs Sweden, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
Recent Results
March 31, 2026: England 0-1 Japan, Wembley Stadium, London, United Kingdom
March 28, 2026: Scotland 0-1 Japan, Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom
November 18, 2025: Japan 3-0 Bolivia, Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
November 14, 2025: Japan 2-0 Ghana, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
October 14, 2025: Japan 3-2 Brazil, Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
October 10, 2025: Japan 2-2 Paraguay, Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe, Japan
September 10, 2025: USA 2-0 Japan, Lower.com Field, Columbus, United States
September 07, 2025: Mexico 0-0 Japan, Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, United States
July 15, 2025: South Korea 0-1 Japan, Yong-in Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
July 12, 2025: Japan 2-0 China, Yong-in Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
July 08, 2025: Japan 6-1 Hong Kong, Yong-in Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
June 10, 2025: Japan 6-0 Indonesia, Panasonic Stadium Suita, Suita, Japan
June 05, 2025: Australia 1-0 Japan, Optus Stadium, Perth, Australia
March 25, 2025: Japan 0-0 Saudi Arabia, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
March 20, 2025: Japan 2-0 Bahrain, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
ManagerWho is Japan’s manager?
Hajime Moriyasu | Credit: Getty
World Cup 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the second World Cup in charge for Hajime Moriyasu, who has masterminded back-to-back away wins against Scotland and England in the final international fixtures before he names his tournament squad.
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Japan beat both Spain and Germany in Qatar before they were knocked out on penalties by Croatia in the round of 16. Moriyasu has a tremendous record when it comes to seeing off big-name opposition and is keen that his team be seen more as dark horses than underdogs on the world stage.
As the manager of Japan’s under-23s until 2021, he former Sanfrecce Hiroshima boss is familiar with the generation players who hope to achieve that with him.
Star playerWho is Japan’s star player?
Japan players celebrate Doan Ritsu’s goal against Germany at the 2022 World Cup. | Credit: Getty Images
Ritsu Doan starred on the wing against England at Wembley and had a huge impact at World Cup 2022, scoring the equalising goals against both Germany and Spain off the bench as Japan secured comeback wins in the group stage.
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The former Gamba Osaka junior joined Eintracht Frankfurt from Freiburg last summer after playing in the Netherlands for Groningen and PSV.
After a blistering start to the Bundesliga season, he reached the March international break with six goals in all competitions for his new club and with a sizeable share of a nation’s World Cup hopes at his feet.
Best XI