Japan Women’s World Cup 2023 Squad – A Preview and Analysis
Japan’s Women’s World Cup 2023 squad is starting to take form, with Coach Futoshi Ikeda’s recent selection of 24 players for the April friendlies against Denmark and Portugal. Japan, the champions of 2011 and finalists of 2015, are on a mission to improve their 2019 performance where they exited in the Round of 16 – their poorest performance in a decade.
Recent Performances and Expectations
The Japanese team’s recent performance has shown some positive signs. They faced a heavy loss against England last year but bounced back impressively, losing only narrowly to the USA in the SheBelieves Cup and winning convincingly against Canada with a 3-0 scoreline.
April brought mixed fortunes, with Japan reversing a 1-0 deficit to Portugal to secure a 2-1 victory, while an unfortunate early own goal from Moeka Minami sealed their fate against Denmark.
Players Making Their Mark in Europe
Recent years have seen many Japanese players finding success in European football leagues. Yui Hasegawa, a key player in Manchester City, stands out amongst them. Fuka Nagano, another midfielder who joined Liverpool in January, has also garnered attention with her skills.
Exciting Young Prospects
One to watch out for is the young striker Maika Hamano. The 18-year-old recently signed by Chelsea after bagging the Golden Ball at the Under 20 World Cup, is showing great promise in Swedish domestic football with seven goals to her name this season.
Japan’s World Cup 2023 Grouping and Fixtures
Japan finds itself in Group C for the World Cup, sharing the group with Spain, Costa Rica, and Zambia. Their first fixture is against Zambia on July 22.
Japan Women’s World Cup 2023 Squad: (Final Roster)
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Ayaka Yamashita | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| GK | Momoka Tanaka | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
| GK | Chika Hirao | Albirex Niigata |
| DF | Risa Shimizu | West Ham |
| DF | Moeka Minami | Roma |
| DF | Saki Kumagai | Bayern Munich |
| DF | Shiori Miyake | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| DF | Ruka Norimatsu | Omiya Ardija Ventus |
| DF | Saori Takarada | Linköping |
| DF | Kiko Seike | Urawa Reds |
| DF | Miyabi Moriya | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| DF | Rion Ishikawa | Urawa Reds |
| MF | Fuka Nagano | Liverpool |
| MF | Hinata Miyazawa | MyNavi Sendai |
| MF | Hiraku Naomoto | Urawa Reds |
| MF | Jun Endo | Angel City |
| MF | Yui Hasegawa | Manchester City |
| MF | Hina Sugita | Portland Thorns |
| MF | Honoka Hayashi | West Ham |
| MF | Aoba Fujino | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
| FW | Riko Ueki | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
| FW | Mana Iwabuchi | Tottenham |
| FW | Mina Tanaka | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| FW | Maika Hamano | Hammarby |
Futoshi Ikeda: Guiding the Team to Glory
Futoshi Ikeda, a former defender and seasoned manager across different levels of the Japanese national team, took the reins of the senior women’s team in 2021.
The Final Announcement: When?
The Japanese squad for the Women’s World Cup 2023 is expected to be announced following the completion of the WE League on June 11.
Squad Size for Japan Women’s World Cup 2023
Japan’s Women’s World Cup squad will consist of 23 players, as per current guidelines.
Final Words
As Japan’s Women’s World Cup 2023 squad shapes up, all eyes are on the talented players who are expected to represent the nation. With the mix of experienced and new talents, Japan is all set to make a mark in the tournament.
Meta Description: Preview and analysis of the Japan Women’s World Cup 2023 squad, including recent performances, standout players, and what to expect from this seasoned team.
