Hajime Moriyasu named Japan’s 26-man World Cup squad on May 15, 2026, with Wataru Endo captaining the Samurai Blue into their eighth consecutive tournament. The headline belongs to Yuto Nagatomo. At 39, the veteran full-back becomes the first Asian player to appear at five different World Cups. The biggest loss is Kaoru Mitoma, Japan’s most creative attacker, ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained at Brighton.
The Japan World Cup Squad 2026 brings real European depth to Group F. Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), and Ao Tanaka (Leeds United) anchor the midfield from the Premier League. Six Bundesliga starters and five Eredivisie players fill the rest. Ranked 18th by FIFA as of April 1, 2026, the Samurai Blue arrive as genuine dark horses.
This is your full Japan squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Japan 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Zion Suzuki | Parma (Italy) | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| GK | Keisuke Osako | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 26 | 11 | 0 |
| GK | Tomoki Hayakawa | Kashima Antlers | 27 | 3 | 0 |
| DF | Yuto Nagatomo | FC Tokyo | 39 | 144 | 4 |
| DF | Shogo Taniguchi | Sint-Truiden (Belgium) | 34 | 37 | 1 |
| DF | Ko Itakura | Ajax (Netherlands) | 29 | 39 | 2 |
| DF | Takehiro Tomiyasu | Ajax (Netherlands) | 27 | 42 | 1 |
| DF | Tsuyoshi Watanabe | Feyenoord (Netherlands) | 29 | 10 | 0 |
| DF | Hiroki Ito | Bayern Munich (Germany) | 27 | 23 | 1 |
| DF | Ayumu Seko | Le Havre (France) | 26 | 13 | 0 |
| DF | Yukinari Sugawara | Werder Bremen (Germany) | 25 | 20 | 6 |
| DF | Junnosuke Suzuki | FC Copenhagen (Denmark) | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| MF | Wataru Endo (C) | Liverpool (England) | 33 | 72 | 4 |
| MF | Junya Ito | KRC Genk (Belgium) | 33 | 68 | 15 |
| MF | Ritsu Doan | Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany) | 27 | 64 | 11 |
| MF | Daichi Kamada | Crystal Palace (England) | 29 | 49 | 12 |
| MF | Ao Tanaka | Leeds United (England) | 27 | 37 | 8 |
| MF | Takefusa Kubo | Real Sociedad (Spain) | 25 | 48 | 7 |
| MF | Keito Nakamura | Stade de Reims (France) | 25 | 24 | 10 |
| MF | Kaishu Sano | Mainz 05 (Germany) | 25 | 12 | 0 |
| MF | Yuito Suzuki | SC Freiburg (Germany) | 24 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord (Netherlands) | 27 | 38 | 16 |
| FW | Daizen Maeda | Celtic (Scotland) | 28 | 27 | 4 |
| FW | Koki Ogawa | NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands) | 28 | 14 | 10 |
| FW | Keisuke Goto | Sint-Truiden (Belgium) | 21 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Kento Shiogai | VfL Wolfsburg (Germany) | 21 | 1 | 0 |
(C) = captain. Ages are as of June 11, 2026. Caps and goals are pre-tournament figures as of May 15, 2026.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Here’s a breakdown of the key numbers behind Moriyasu’s Japan World Cup Squad 2026.
- Average age: 27.2 years
- Most-capped player: Yuto Nagatomo (144 caps)
- Top scorer in squad: Ayase Ueda (16 international goals)
- Youngest player: Keisuke Goto (21)
- Oldest player: Yuto Nagatomo (39)
- Premier League players: 3 (Endo, Kamada, Ao Tanaka)
- Bundesliga players: 6 (Ito, Doan, Sano, Yuito Suzuki, Shiogai, Sugawara)
Key Players to Watch
Ritsu Doan | Eintracht Frankfurt
Doan is Japan’s most dangerous wide attacker. He changed the 2022 World Cup from the bench, scoring the equalisers in comeback wins against both Germany and Spain. At Eintracht Frankfurt he’s one of the Bundesliga’s most direct wingers. With 64 caps and 11 international goals, he’s the player opponents build their defensive plans around.
Wataru Endo (C) | Liverpool
Endo captains Japan from the base of midfield. His 72 caps cover a decade of consistent service. At Liverpool he protects the back four while distributing cleanly under pressure. Moriyasu trusts him to read the game and set tempo from deep. Without Mitoma stretching the wide areas, Endo’s forward passing becomes Japan’s primary transition trigger.
Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord
Ueda leads Japan’s squad with 16 international goals in 38 caps and finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer this season with 25 for Feyenoord. He’s the main striker, combining movement with aerial threat in the box. Moriyasu will lean on him to hold up play and convert whenever Japan build their way into danger.
Ko Itakura | Ajax
Itakura organises Japan’s back line at centre-back. The 29-year-old reads danger early, wins headers, and steps out with the ball from deep. Time at Manchester City, Groningen, Schalke, and Borussia Mönchengladbach shaped him before Ajax. Club-mate Takehiro Tomiyasu partners him, giving Japan centre-backs who already know each other’s defensive patterns.
Takefusa Kubo | Real Sociedad
Kubo is 25 with 48 caps and among La Liga’s most exciting attackers. A La Masia graduate, he scored Japan’s qualifying clincher against Bahrain in March 2025. His ability to cut inside or drive in behind makes him Japan’s main creative outlet when Moriyasu needs to unlock a low block.
Japan World Cup 2026 Schedule
Japan play their three group matches across the United States and Mexico. Kick-off times are listed in Eastern Time (ET) and Japan Standard Time (JST) for fans watching at home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (JST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 2026 | vs Netherlands | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | 4:00 PM | Jun 15, 5:00 AM |
| Jun 20, 2026 | vs Tunisia | Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA), Monterrey | 12:00 AM | Jun 21, 1:00 PM |
| Jun 25, 2026 | vs Sweden | Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium), Arlington | 7:00 PM | Jun 26, 8:00 AM |
Japan open in Arlington against the Netherlands, return to Dallas for the Sweden finale, and face Tunisia in between in Monterrey on the night of June 20. See the full 2026 World Cup schedule for all knockout-stage fixtures and times.
How Japan Qualified for World Cup 2026
Japan came through the AFC third round in Group C alongside Australia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, China, and Bahrain. Seven wins, two draws, and one loss produced 23 points and a goal difference of plus 27. They scored 30 times and conceded just three across ten matches.
The Samurai Blue became the first non-host nation to confirm their 2026 place, clinching qualification on March 20, 2025, with three games to spare. A 2-0 home win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium did it. Daichi Kamada put Japan ahead in the 66th minute and Takefusa Kubo sealed it in the 87th. Both players finished as Japan’s joint top scorers in the AFC qualifying round with four goals each.
Australia took the second automatic spot with 19 points, four behind Japan. Three goals conceded across ten matches tells you what Moriyasu’s team is built on: defensive solidity first.
Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu is 57 years old and has been Japan’s head coach since August 2018, appointed after the Round of 16 exit in Russia. Before taking the senior job, he managed the Japan under-23 side and had built a strong coaching reputation at Sanfrecce Hiroshima, where he won three J1 League titles between 2012 and 2015.
His record at World Cups is the main reason the squad believes in what they’re doing. At Qatar 2022, Japan came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and Spain 2-1 in the group stage, two of the most famous upsets in recent World Cup history. They advanced as group winners before losing to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16. Moriyasu’s preferred base is a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, built around collective pressing and fast transitions. He shifts shape mid-match depending on the opponent, uses his bench with purpose, and changes games with substitutions rather than chasing them.
Wins over Scotland (1-0) and England (1-0 at Wembley) in March 2026 confirmed the squad’s fitness going into the tournament. Moriyasu won’t set up defensively against the Netherlands. His record proves this side can hurt anyone.
Group F at a Glance
Japan are in Group F. Here’s where each team stands going into the tournament.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | WC Appearances (pre-2026) | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 7th | 11 (1934-2022) | Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010) |
| Japan | 18th | 7 (1998-2022) | Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) |
| Sweden | 38th | 11 (1934-2018) | Runners-up (1958) |
| Tunisia | 41st | 6 (1978-2022) | Group stage |
FIFA rankings are from the April 1, 2026 official update (next update: June 11, 2026). WC appearances are pre-2026 figures only.
The Netherlands are the group’s biggest test. They’ve reached three World Cup finals and carry genuine quality across every position. Sweden are a physical, organised side who won UEFA qualifying and won’t be taken lightly by anyone.
Tunisia are the weakest side in the group on paper. Japan beat them 2-0 when the two sides met at the 2002 World Cup and won the same scoreline in a 2023 friendly. The group is winnable, but it starts with the Dutch. For the full group breakdown, check the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Japan World Cup Squad 2026
What is Japan’s nickname at the World Cup?
Japan’s national football team is the Samurai Blue. The name comes from their navy blue home kit and has been the official team identity since the late 1990s, adopted by the Japanese Football Association to build the squad’s international brand through their World Cup era.
Could Yuto Nagatomo become Japan’s all-time most-capped player?
Nagatomo enters with 144 caps, eight short of Yasuhito Endo’s Japan record of 152. Three guaranteed group games add three more, and any knockout progress puts the record within reach. At 39, this is almost certainly his last World Cup, making the milestone chase one of the standout personal stories of Japan’s campaign.
Has Japan ever beaten the Netherlands at a World Cup?
No. The two sides met once at a World Cup, at South Africa 2010, where the Netherlands won 1-0 through a Wesley Sneijder goal. Their most recent meeting was a 2-2 friendly in 2013. Japan have never beaten the Dutch in a competitive fixture, making the June 14 opener their best chance at a historic first win.
What was Japan’s most famous World Cup result?
Japan’s most celebrated performances came at Qatar 2022, beating Germany 2-1 and Spain 2-1 from behind in the group stage. Both results rank among the biggest World Cup upsets in recent history. Ritsu Doan scored in both games. Japan advanced from the group before losing to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16.
Japan’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Japan World Cup Squad 2026 is built around a European-based core at the peak of their careers. Doan, Ueda, Kamada, and Kubo all have the quality to decide knockout matches. The squad is balanced, with leadership from experienced players like Endo and Nagatomo and genuine pace and creativity from a younger generation. Losing Mitoma hurts. There’s no replacement for what he brings. But this squad has depth.
Japan’s realistic ceiling is the Round of 32, their first knockout stage in this expanded format. A favourable draw from Group F could put them there and give them a platform to go further. Moriyasu has beaten Germany, Spain, and England with this group of players. A quarterfinal run isn’t a dream. It’s a target they’re equipped to chase.
