小组 F · FIFA World Cup 2026
Ayase Ueda
NEC Nijmegen
25 goals in the Eredivisie this season — Golden Boot by a landslide. Van Persie's student has become the clinical finisher Japan have been searching for for a generation.
Daichi Kamada
Crystal Palace
Japan's most technically complete midfielder. Operates as a second striker, a #10, or a pressing trigger — De la Fuente called him the most important Japan player he'd ever faced.
Ritsu Doan
Eintracht Frankfurt
The man who scored against Spain in Qatar. Dangerous from outside the box, relentless in the press, and experienced on the biggest stage. A key rotation option on the right.
Junya Ito
Genk
One of Japan's fastest wide players. His pace and directness make him a genuine threat on the counter-attack — exactly the profile Moriyasu needs on the right flank.
Kaishu Sano
Mainz
The defensive midfielder who stepped up after Morita's exclusion and made the position his own. Physical, combative, and disciplined — the engine of Japan's defensive shape.
谷口彰悟
DF
上田绮世
FW
Age
27
Height
182cm
Foot
Right
Value
€15M
大迫敬介
GK
Age
26
Height
Yes. Japan qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and are in Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia.
Moriyasu is now in his second term as Japan head coach, having survived criticism to lead the Blue Samurai to their best-ever World Cup performance in Qatar. A cautious but tactically precise manager, he rotates extensively and has gradually shifted Japan toward a three-centre-back system designed specifically to counter-attack European opponents. He has beaten seven World Cup winners during his tenure.
In 1998, Japan's first World Cup squad was entirely made up of J-League players. By 2002 they had four players abroad. By 2014, twelve. At Qatar 2022, nineteen. For 2026, 23 of 26 squad members play in European leagues — including eleven from the top five leagues. This is not a gradual rise; it is a transformation.
Japan open against Netherlands, then face Tunisia in the middle, then close with Sweden. Two strong European sides sandwich a must-win match against Tunisia. Moriyasu will target Tunisia as the banker and use the European games to test his counter-attacking system under real pressure.
Japan have reached the last 16 four times (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) but have never gone further. In Qatar, they beat Germany and Spain before losing on penalties to Croatia. The squad that enters 2026 is deeper and more European-hardened than any that came before. This cycle, breaking through the quarter-final ceiling is a realistic goal.
In the current World Cup cycle, Japan have not lost to a European team in normal time across eight matches. They beat Scotland and England in March with quick counter-attacks at Wembley. Serbia, Spain, Turkey, and Germany have all been defeated. Moriyasu's team no longer fears European opponents — they have a blueprint for beating them.
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188cm
Foot
Right
Value
€2M
菅原由势
DF
Age
25
Height
179cm
Foot
Right
Value
€7.5M
桥冈大树
DF
田中碧
MF
Age
27
Height
177cm
Foot
Right
Value
€10M
伊藤洋辉
DF
Age
26
Height
188cm
Foot
Right
Value
€18M
镰田大地
MF
Age
29
Height
180cm
Foot
Right
Value
€12M
堂安律
MF
Age
27
Height
172cm
Foot
Left
Value
€20M
前田大然
FW
中村敬斗
MF
Age
25
Height
180cm
Foot
Right
Value
€9M
小川航基
FW
Age
28
Height
183cm
Foot
Right
Value
€2.5M
铃木唯人
MF
Age
24
Height
175cm
Foot
Right
Value
€18M
铃木彩艳
GK
Age
23
Height
190cm
Value
€20M
伊东纯也
MF
Age
33
Height
176cm
Foot
Right
Value
€3.5M
三笘薰
MF
Age
28
Height
178cm
Value
€25M
濑古步梦
DF
Age
25
Height
183cm
Foot
Right
Value
€5M
藤田让瑠
MF
Age
24
Height
172cm
Foot
Right
Value
€10M
町野修斗
FW
Age
26
Height
184cm
Foot
左右脚
Value
€5M
渡边刚
DF
Age
29
Height
184cm
Foot
Right
Value
€10M
铃木淳之介
DF
佐野海舟
MF
Age
25
Height
176cm
Foot
Right
Value
€25M
佐藤龙之介
MF
早川友基
GK
Age
19
Height
171cm
Value
€1.2M
后藤启介
FW
Age
27
Height
187cm
Foot
Right
Value
€1.5M
盐井贤斗
MF
Japan are in Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. They open against the Netherlands, then face Tunisia, and close with Sweden — a schedule with strong European opponents on either side.
Hajime Moriyasu is the head coach of Japan, now in his second term. He led Japan to the round of 16 at Qatar 2022 where they beat both Germany and Spain in the group stage. He has beaten seven different World Cup winners during his tenure.
Japan's standout players include Ayase Ueda (NEC Nijmegen), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ritsu Doan (Frankfurt), Junya Ito (Genk), and Kaishu Sano (Mainz). Kubo Takefusa and captain Endo Wataru (Liverpool) are also central figures when fit.
No. Japan have never won the World Cup. They first qualified in 1998 and have reached the round of 16 four times (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022), but have never advanced to the quarter-finals. Their best achievement remains beating Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022.
Japan are dark horses with genuine knockout-round potential. Their squad — 23 of 26 players based in Europe — is the strongest they have ever assembled. In the current cycle they are unbeaten in eight games against European opposition. If they escape Group F, their compact 3-4-2-1 counter-attacking system can threaten anyone.
Japan's injury absentees are significant. Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring — season over) is the biggest miss. Minamino and Machida missed most of the season with ACL injuries. Morita was excluded despite good recent form — Sano's emergence forced the decision. Even the players who missed the squad represent an extraordinary depth of European talent.
The squad carries nine defenders but only four central midfielders — a deliberate choice that has attracted criticism. With Endo managing fitness concerns, the burden on Sano, Tanaka, and Kamada is significant. Moriyasu's "top-5-league priority" principle left no room for domestic-based cover.
Moriyasu spent the entire 2026 cycle drilling a three-centre-back system with two shadow strikers behind a lone forward. Against deep-defending weaker teams, Japan switch to a 4-2-3-1. The 3-4-2-1 is designed specifically for European opponents — compact in midfield, explosive on the transition, and difficult to break down.
Japan have historically lacked a dominant No. 9. Ueda changes that. Mentored by Robin van Persie at Feyenoord, he scored 25 Eredivisie goals this season to win the Golden Boot comfortably. Tall, strong, technically reliable, and clinical — when Japan win the ball in transition, they now have a finisher at the end of the move.
Japan's right flank is their most dangerous attacking corridor. Kubo Takefusa (Real Sociedad) operates as a shadow striker with license to drift and create; Junya Ito provides pace and directness on the outside. Doan Ritsu can rotate into either role. It is the most thoroughly covered position in the squad.
When Morita Hideki was excluded despite returning to form, many questioned Moriyasu. Sano (Mainz) has justified the call. Physical, press-resistant, and disciplined, he is better suited to the high-tempo style Japan need against European opponents. He is the engine of everything Japan do without the ball.
Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) is Japan's most versatile attacker. He can play as a #10, a false nine, a wide forward, or even a pressing midfielder. In the Qatar cycle, De la Fuente specifically cited him as Japan's most dangerous player. When Japan need to unlock a stubborn defence, Kamada is the answer.
Taniguchi Shogo (34, Saint-Truden) is the anchor of Japan's three-man defence. A late convert to European football, he has grown into his role as the defensive leader — calm, experienced, and trusted by Moriyasu to organise the shape when the team concedes possession.
At Qatar 2022, 17 different players started across Japan's four matches. All 23 outfield players got meaningful minutes — even the third striker. Moriyasu treats rotation as a tactical weapon: players stay fresh, opponents cannot adapt, and injuries have less impact. This will be the same at 2026.
Japan lost to Costa Rica at Qatar 2022 after beating Germany — the classic trap game. Tunisia are no Costa Rica: they are arguably Africa's best-organised defensive team. Japan must approach the Tunisia match with full intensity, not as a rest game between the European fixtures.
Japan will escape Group F if they beat Tunisia and competitive in at least one European game. In the knockout rounds, their counter-attacking system is built to cause upsets. Moriyasu's second term has been spent preparing specifically for this moment. For the first time, a quarter-final feels like the floor, not the ceiling.