Japan World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
The Japan World Cup Squad 2026 is through to the knockout stage. Hajime Moriyasu’s Samurai Blue finished Group F as runners-up and now meet Brazil in the Round of 32 on Monday, June 29, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Japan held the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw, beat Tunisia 4-0, and drew 1-1 with Sweden to reach the last 32 unbeaten.
Moriyasu built the squad around a European-based core. Wataru Endo (Liverpool) captains the side, with Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace) and Ao Tanaka (Leeds United) in midfield. The biggest absentee is Kaoru Mitoma, Japan’s most creative attacker, ruled out before the tournament with a hamstring tear, while Takumi Minamino missed out after a knee injury. Veteran full-back Yuto Nagatomo, 39, features at a fifth World Cup, a first for any Asian player.
Below is the full roster, group results, key players, and the Round of 32 outlook. Japan carry real belief here, having beaten Brazil for the first time, 3-2 in a Tokyo friendly in 2025.
Japan World Cup Squad 2026: Full 26-Player Roster
| 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.
For all 48 team announcement dates, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Japan World Cup Squad 2026: Quick Stats
- 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
Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord
Japan’s main striker and squad top scorer with 16 international goals. He scored twice in the group stage and was the Eredivisie’s leading marksman this season with 25 for Feyenoord. Moriyasu leans on him to hold up play and finish in the box.
Ritsu Doan | Eintracht Frankfurt
Japan’s most dangerous wide attacker. He scored the equalisers in the famous 2022 comeback wins over Germany and Spain and remains the player opponents plan around, with 11 goals in 64 caps.
Takefusa Kubo | Real Sociedad
Japan’s main creative outlet at 25. The La Masia graduate scored the qualifying clincher against Bahrain and can cut inside or run in behind to unlock a low block.
Daichi Kamada | Crystal Palace
A goal threat from midfield, Kamada found the net twice in the group stage. His late runs and link play give Japan an extra scorer alongside Ueda.
Wataru Endo (C) | Liverpool
Japan’s captain anchors the midfield. His 72 caps and Liverpool experience let him protect the back four and set tempo from deep, a steadying presence against Brazil’s attack.
Japan World Cup 2026 Schedule and Results
Japan finished Group F unbeaten with five points. Here is the full schedule of how the Samurai Blue fared, plus their Round of 32 fixture against Brazil.
| Date | Round | Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 14 | Group F | Netherlands vs Japan | 2-2 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| June 21 | Group F | Tunisia vs Japan | 0-4 | Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey |
| June 25 | Group F | Japan vs Sweden | 1-1 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington |
| June 29 | Round of 32 | Japan vs Brazil | TBD | NRG Stadium, Houston |
The 4-0 win over Tunisia was the standout, with Ayase Ueda scoring twice and Daichi Kamada and Junya Ito also on the mark.
Japan reached the last 32 in form, backed by March 2026 wins over Scotland and England and a first ever victory against Brazil (3-2 in 2025). As Group F runners-up they meet Group C winners Brazil, with the winner advancing to the Round of 16 on July 5.
How Japan Qualified for the 2026 World Cup
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 gave them 23 points and a goal difference of plus 27, scoring 30 and conceding only three across ten matches.
The Samurai Blue were the first non-host nation to confirm their 2026 place, clinching on March 20, 2025, with three games to spare. A 2-0 home win over Bahrain at Saitama Stadium did it, with Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo on the scoresheet. Both finished as Japan’s joint top scorers in AFC qualifying with four goals each.
Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu, 57, has coached Japan since August 2018. Before the senior job he led the under-23 side and won three J1 League titles with Sanfrecce Hiroshima between 2012 and 2015.
His World Cup record drives the squad’s belief. At Qatar 2022, Japan came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and Spain 2-1, two of the biggest upsets in recent World Cup history, before losing to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16.
He favours a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 built on collective pressing and fast transitions, and he changes games with his bench. The 2-2 draw with the Netherlands and the 4-0 win over Tunisia showed the same blend of resilience and threat.
Group F Final Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 7 |
| 2 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +4 | 5 |
| 3 | Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 0 |
The Netherlands won Group F, with Japan second on five points. Sweden squeezed through as one of the best third-placed teams, while Tunisia went out with no points. For the full picture, check the 2026 World Cup groups hub.
FAQ About Japan World Cup Squad 2026
Did Japan reach the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Japan finished Group F as runners-up with five points, drawing 2-2 with the Netherlands, beating Tunisia 4-0, and drawing 1-1 with Sweden. They advanced to the knockout stage unbeaten behind group winners the Netherlands.
Who does Japan play in the Round of 32?
Japan face Brazil, the Group C winners, on Monday, June 29, 2026, at NRG Stadium in Houston. The winner advances to the Round of 16 on July 5.
Has Japan ever beaten Brazil?
Yes. Japan beat Brazil for the first time in October 2025, winning 3-2 in a Tokyo friendly. The Round of 32 tie on June 29, 2026, is the first ever meeting between the two nations at a World Cup.
Why is Kaoru Mitoma not in Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad?
Mitoma suffered a serious hamstring tear playing for Brighton in May 2026. With recovery expected to run past the tournament, Moriyasu left him out. Takumi Minamino also missed out after a knee injury.
Who is Japan’s captain at the 2026 World Cup?
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo captains Japan. He anchors the midfield in front of the defence and is the squad’s on-field leader under Hajime Moriyasu.
Could Yuto Nagatomo become Japan’s most-capped player?
Nagatomo entered the tournament with 144 caps, eight short of Yasuhito Endo’s national record of 152. At 39, this is almost certainly his last World Cup, and any knockout run keeps the milestone in play. He is the first Asian player to feature at five World Cups.
What is Japan’s nickname at the World Cup?
Japan are known as the Samurai Blue, a name drawn from their navy home kit and used as the team’s official identity since the late 1990s.
What is Japan’s best World Cup finish?
The Round of 16, reached in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. Japan have never gone beyond the last 16, so a win over Brazil would be a historic step.
Who is Japan’s head coach for the 2026 World Cup?
Hajime Moriyasu, 57, has managed Japan since 2018. He led the side to wins over Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022 and favours a pressing 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
Japan’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Japan World Cup Squad 2026 has already delivered, reaching the knockout stage unbeaten with a European-based spine at its peak. Ueda, Kamada, Doan, and Kubo can all decide tight games, and Endo brings calm in midfield. Losing Mitoma hurts, but the squad has shown real depth.
Now comes the biggest test of all, five-time champions Brazil in the Round of 32. Japan have beaten them before and went toe to toe with Europe’s best in the group stage. A first ever run beyond the Round of 16 is within reach for Moriyasu’s side.
