Japan World Cup 2026 team guide

This article is portion of nan Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a practice betwixt immoderate of nan champion media organisations from nan 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is moving previews from 3 countries each time successful nan run-up to nan tourney kicking disconnected connected 11 June.

The plan

Japan are nary longer astatine a shape wherever speaking openly astir “winning nan World Cup” invites ridicule. Their historical victories complete Germany and Spain successful 2022 proved that they are tin of producing overmuch much than conscionable a one-off upset. Over astir 8 years successful complaint nan caput coach, Hajime Moriyasu, has built a broadside tin not simply of surviving against nan world’s elite, but of defeating them too. This was backed up by wins against Brazil successful October and England – astatine Wembley – successful March.

The expected strategy is simply a 3-4-2-1, though Japan besides experimented pinch a 3-1-4-2 against England, suggesting tactical elasticity depending connected nan oppostion. Pressing aggressively from nan apical is important, pinch players specified arsenic Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Keito Nakamura and Junya Ito each fantabulous astatine putting unit connected opponents.

Leading nan statement is Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, who won nan Eredivisie Golden Boot successful 2025-26, scoring an awesome 25 goals successful 31 appearances. The spine is beardown pinch Parma’s Zion Suzuki successful extremity and Hiroki Ito, Shogo Taniguchi and Tsuyoshi Watanabe arsenic cardinal defenders.

Kaishu Sano is group to anchor nan midfield and nan truth that players specified arsenic Takehiro Tomiyasu and Wataru Endo person to settee for a spot connected nan chair astatine times is grounds that Japan’s squad extent has ne'er been stronger. Injuries to Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma are very unfortunate but, again, this squad are not truthful vulnerable arsenic to illness because of nan absence of 1 aliases 2 missing prima players. Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada will play an important role.

Still, Group F will beryllium reliable pinch nan 2 European sides, nan Netherlands and Sweden, having beardown squads while Tunisia whitethorn successful truth move retired to beryllium nan astir difficult stylistic matchup of nan three.

Hopes are precocious backmost home, though, and nan erstwhile Japan coach Akira Nishino, who led nan broadside astatine nan 2018 World Cup successful Russia, says of nan existent squad: “It’s not astir individuals acting for illustration egoists. This group of players conflict together and wrong that unity, personality emerges. There is simply a spot successful these ‘Japanised’ individuals.”

This squad genuinely judge they tin triumph nan World Cup.

The coach

As a player, Hajime Moriyasu played arsenic a protect midfielder for Sanfrecce Hiroshima and nan Japan nationalist team. Since taking complaint of Japan aft nan 2018 World Cup, he has built nan squad measurement by step. He has respected knowledgeable players while gradually integrating a caller procreation that now forms nan halfway of nan team. His methods – focused connected harmony, subject and continuity alternatively than extremist alteration – tin astatine times look conservative, but location is nary denying his expertise to create a unchangeable and highly competitory environment. With nan World Cup successful sight, Moriyasu continues to style his blueprint for success. “By making usage of Japan’s expertise to steadily build and nan qualities of Japanese people, I want shot to alteration nan belief that Japan cannot go nan champion successful nan world successful a interaction sport,” he says.

Star player

The subordinate who brings nan top spark to Japan’s onslaught is Takefusa Kubo. Receiving nan shot connected nan correct flank, he draws defenders successful pinch delicate touches and his unsocial consciousness of timing, exploiting moreover nan smallest openings to create chances. Having been labelled nan “Japanese Messi” early connected successful his career, he signed for Real Madrid astatine nan property of 18 successful 2019. Several indebtedness spells followed earlier he joined Real Sociedad successful 2022. There he has go nan focal constituent of nan onslaught and he continues to play a decisive domiciled for nan nationalist squad arsenic well. Against Bahrain, he provided nan assistance for nan opening extremity earlier scoring different that successful effect sealed Japan’s qualification for nan World Cup.

Takefusa Kubo is Japan’s astir important attacking option. Photograph: Tomohiro Ohsumi/FIFA/Getty Images

One to watch

The man entrusted pinch keeping Japan’s extremity safe is Zion Suzuki. Blessed pinch outstanding beingness attributes, he besides possesses each basal value expected of a top-class goalkeeper. At nan Asian Cup 2 years ago, his inconsistency drew criticism, exposing him to nan harsh realities of being Japan’s No 1. Then, past November, he fractured his near hand, pinch his grip spot suffering arsenic a result. Even so, he continued to summation acquisition astatine nine level earlier returning to nan nationalist team’s goal. His imaginable is immense and he could beryllium nan look of Japan’s goalkeeping position for a decade.

Unsung hero

Standing astatine 1.88m (6ft 2in), left-footed and tin of playing centre-back and left-back, Hiroki Ito offers a uncommon operation of size, versatility and method quality. Injuries person disrupted his advancement astatine nine level, but nan very truth that a Japanese defender now plays for Bayern Munich speaks volumes astir really overmuch nan scenery of nan country’s shot has changed. “In Germany I person had to study really to take sides smartly,” says nan 27-year-old, who played a batch of futsal and spent immoderate clip pinch Santos successful Brazil arsenic a youngster.

Probable starting XI

What to expect from fans astatine games?

Japan’s supporters are wide regarded arsenic 1 of nan astir disciplined instrumentality groups successful world football. The stands are filled pinch nan nationalist team’s signature blue, while chants of “Nippon” echo successful hit pinch nan drums. Unlike nan overwhelming strength aliases flamboyance often associated pinch European aliases South American crowds, Japanese supporters are defined by their organisation, subject and respect for opponents.

Their wont of cleaning up trash successful nan stands aft matches drew world attraction astatine some nan 2018 and 2022 World Cups, offering a glimpse into nan consciousness of courtesy and work often associated pinch Japanese culture. At this tournament, pinch much locally based fans expected to subordinate them, nan oversea of bluish wrong stadiums will apt beryllium moreover much visible than astatine nan past World Cup.

Relationship pinch nan US/Trump?

It is improbable that nan nationalist squad aliases nan Japan Football Association will make immoderate governmental statements regarding nan United States aliases Donald Trump. Part of that stems from nan longstanding narration betwixt Japan and nan US, but it besides reflects a broader Japanese inclination to debar unnecessary contention while showing respect toward nan big nation. The emotion is mutual, pinch nan US caput of state, Marco Rubio, precocious saying: “Under President Trump, we person ushered successful a caller aureate property for US-Japan relations that upholds a free and unfastened Indo-Pacific and brings bid and prosperity to nan region.”

Written by Takashi Ogami for Shukyu Magazine.