Japan World Cup 2026 Squad: Final 26-Player List
Japan named their 26-player Japan World Cup 2026 Squad on May 15, with head coach Hajime Moriyasu confirming three notable absences: Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma (hamstring), Monaco’s Takumi Minamino (ACL) and Sporting CP’s Hidemasa Morita.
The Blue Samurai head to North America as Asia’s top-ranked side with the most European-experienced squad they’ve ever assembled.
Japan dominated AFC qualifying. Moriyasu’s side topped Group C with seven wins, two draws and one loss across ten matches, scoring 30 goals. They sealed their spot on March 20, 2025, beating Bahrain 2-0 to become the first nation to confirm a 2026 World Cup place. This is Japan’s eighth World Cup appearance.
Japan Quick Facts:
- Country: Japan
- Confederation: AFC
- Nickname: Blue Samurai
- Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
- Captain: Wataru Endo
- Group: Group F
- Group Opponents: Netherlands, Sweden, Tunisia
- First Match: June 14 vs Netherlands, Dallas Stadium, 4:00 PM ET
- Last Group Match: June 25 vs Sweden, Dallas Stadium, 7:00 PM ET
- FIFA Ranking: 18th (as of April 1, 2026)
- World Cup Appearance: Eighth
- Kit Manufacturer: Adidas
Japan Squad List for World Cup 2026
Goalkeepers
- Zion Suzuki, 23, Parma (Italy)
- Keisuke Ōsako, 26, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan)
- Tomoki Hayakawa, 27, Kashima Antlers (Japan)
Defenders
- Yūto Nagatomo, 39, FC Tokyo (Japan)
- Takehiro Tomiyasu, 27, Ajax (Netherlands)
- Kō Itakura, 29, Ajax (Netherlands)
- Shōgo Taniguchi, 34, Sint-Truiden (Belgium)
- Hiroki Itō, 27, Bayern Munich (Germany)
- Yukinari Sugawara, 25, Werder Bremen (Germany)
- Ayumu Seko, 26, Le Havre (France)
- Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 29, Feyenoord (Netherlands)
- Junnosuke Suzuki, 22, FC Copenhagen (Denmark)
Midfielders
- Wataru Endo (C), 33, Liverpool (England)
- Junya Itō, 33, KRC Genk (Belgium)
- Ritsu Dōan, 27, Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany)
- Daichi Kamada, 29, Crystal Palace (England)
- Takefusa Kubo, 25, Real Sociedad (Spain)
- Ao Tanaka, 27, Leeds United (England)
- Keito Nakamura, 25, Reims (France)
- Kaishū Sano, 25, Mainz 05 (Germany)
Forwards
- Ayase Ueda, 27, Feyenoord (Netherlands)
- Daizen Maeda, 28, Celtic (Scotland)
- Kōki Ogawa, 28, NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)
- Yuito Suzuki, 24, SC Freiburg (Germany)
- Keisuke Gotō, 21, Sint-Truiden (Belgium)
- Kento Shiogai, 21, VfL Wolfsburg (Germany)
Nagatomo is 39 and making his fifth World Cup. Shiogai arrives at 21 with one senior cap. Six Bundesliga starters, three Premier League players, and only three J.League picks: the most globally dispersed squad Japan has ever assembled.
Japan World Cup 2026 Fixtures
Japan play all three group stage matches across the United States and Mexico. Times are shown in Eastern Time (ET) for North American venues and Japan Standard Time (JST) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (ET) | Time (JST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2026 | Netherlands vs Japan | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | 4:00 PM | 5:00 AM (Jun 15) |
| June 21, 2026 | Japan vs Tunisia | Monterrey Stadium, Guadalupe | 12:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
| June 25, 2026 | Japan vs Sweden | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | 7:00 PM | 8:00 AM (Jun 26) |
The top two teams from Group F advance directly to the round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams also progress. The Netherlands (ranked 7th) are Japan’s toughest opponent. Tunisia (ranked 40th) offer the best realistic chance of three points. Sweden arrive as European playoff qualifiers with momentum behind them.
Manager: Hajime Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu was born on August 23, 1968, in Fukuoka, Japan. The Japan Football Association appointed him head coach on July 26, 2018, following the World Cup in Russia. Now 57, he’s in his eighth year as national team manager and the longest-serving Asian head coach at this tournament.
Moriyasu played as a midfielder for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, earning 35 caps. He won three J.League titles at Hiroshima (2012, 2013 and 2015), guided the under-23 team to bronze at Tokyo 2020, then moved up to the senior role.
Tactically, Moriyasu favours a 3-4-2-1 built around high pressing and fast vertical passes. Wing-backs carry the team’s attacking width. That same system dismantled Germany and Spain in Qatar in 2022, and it’s the unchanged template for North America.
Star Player: Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo turned 33 in February 2026 and plays defensive midfielder for Liverpool in the Premier League. He joined the club in August 2023 for £16 million and won the title with them in 2024-25. In Moriyasu’s 3-4-2-1, Endo is the midfield pivot everything else flows through.
Endo has 72 caps and four international goals. He captained Japan for the first time in June 2023 and led the side when they beat Bahrain 2-0 to qualify on March 20, 2025. He became the first captain to guide Japan to the 2026 tournament, making that moment his own.
His fitness is a concern. Endo suffered an ankle ligament rupture in February 2026, underwent surgery, and missed the rest of Liverpool’s season. Named in the squad after returning to training, he stated he “believed in myself to make this happen.” How quickly he finds full sharpness will shape Japan’s midfield structure in the early group stage.
Key Players to Watch
Junnosuke Suzuki
Junnosuke Suzuki is 22 and plays centre-back for FC Copenhagen. He’s used as an attacking wing-back in Moriyasu’s 3-4-2-1 with six senior caps, making him the youngest defender with realistic starting potential in this squad.
With Mitoma absent, Suzuki has a real chance to start on the left flank. He showed good energy in AFC qualifying and brings the pressing urgency Moriyasu’s system demands. A strong Group F could make him Japan’s breakthrough name.
Yūto Nagatomo
Yūto Nagatomo is 39, plays for FC Tokyo and holds 144 caps, the most of any player in this squad. He’s making his fifth World Cup, the most tournament appearances by any Japanese player in history. No one in that dressing room has been in this position more times.
Nagatomo’s role is leadership and cover. His experience carries weight when pressure spikes and younger players need someone who has been there.
Ayase Ueda
Ayase Ueda is 27 and plays striker for Feyenoord in the Dutch Eredivisie. He leads Japan’s squad with 16 international goals from 38 caps, making him the most clinical finisher in the group.
Ueda scored six goals in AFC Group C qualifying. With Mitoma gone, he may carry Japan’s attacking load more heavily than planned. His ability to finish against deep defensive blocks will be critical against Tunisia, where Japan need goals rather than draws.
Qualification Path & World Cup History
Japan topped AFC Group C with seven wins, two draws and one loss across ten qualifying matches, scoring 30 goals and earning 23 points. Their 2-0 win over Bahrain on March 20, 2025 made them the first nation to confirm a 2026 World Cup place. The AFC confirmed Japan as Group C winners after the campaign concluded in June 2025.
Japan have appeared in seven previous World Cups since 1998, compiling seven wins, six draws and 12 losses across 25 matches. They’ve reached the Round of 16 four times: 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.
The 2022 tournament in Qatar is Japan’s benchmark. They beat Germany 2-1 and Spain 2-1 in the group stage, topped Group E with six points, then fell to Croatia in the Round of 16 on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time. Matching that run is Moriyasu’s stated aim.
What to Expect & Our Prediction
Japan line up in a 3-4-2-1 with Endo anchoring midfield and Kubo and Dōan providing advanced threat. The wing-backs push high and the forwards press in coordinated waves from the front. Japan’s pressing structure is one of the best-drilled at this tournament.
The obvious vulnerability is the left channel without Mitoma. Endo’s uncertain fitness adds another concern. The Netherlands will target both. That tactical matchup on June 14 will likely define Japan’s group stage. A point against the Dutch would be a strong result and leave the path open through Tunisia and Sweden.
Japan are expected to advance from Group F, most likely second behind the Netherlands. The Round of 16 is the realistic ceiling. This squad has the European experience and tactical discipline to go deeper, though that would be a best-ever result.
Japan World Cup 2026 Squad FAQs
Who is the oldest and youngest player in Japan’s squad?
Yūto Nagatomo is the oldest at 39, making his fifth World Cup with 144 career caps. Kento Shiogai is the youngest at 21 and arrives with one senior cap. Their 18-year age gap is the widest pairing in Japan’s 26-man group.
How many of Japan’s players are based in European leagues?
23 of Japan’s 26 players are at European clubs. Only Keisuke Ōsako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers) and Yūto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) play in the J.League. That proportion is the highest Japan has ever sent to a World Cup.
Which European league has the most Japan players?
Germany’s Bundesliga leads with six: Hiroki Itō (Bayern Munich), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Kaishū Sano (Mainz 05), Yuito Suzuki (SC Freiburg) and Kento Shiogai (VfL Wolfsburg). The Premier League and Eredivisie each supply three players.
What is the average age of Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Japan’s squad averages approximately 27 years old at the tournament start date of June 11, 2026. That’s a balanced mix, experienced enough for the biggest stages but not past peak. The blend of veterans and 21-year-olds gives Moriyasu genuine depth across all positions.
What kit does Japan wear at the 2026 World Cup?
Japan wear Adidas kits. The home jersey features curved lines on a blue base representing the Japanese horizon and the drive to surpass past achievements. The away kit is white with a central red stripe echoing the colours of the national flag.
The Japan World Cup 2026 Squad is the most European-seasoned group Japan has ever fielded. The injuries to Mitoma, Minamino and Morita cast a shadow, but Japan qualified first in the world for a reason. The Blue Samurai don’t go to North America just to participate.
