The Japan World Cup 2026 squad is starting to take shape.
Japan go into World Cup 2026 as one of the dark horses after an impressive tournament four years ago – and they could have one of the most exciting squads at the tournament with household names from across Europe.
There's plenty of experience across this team now, with Wataru Endo captaining, and superb midfield talents like Ritsu Doan, Ao Tanaka and Daichi Kamada.
There's youth and exuberance across the side, too, though, with the exciting Takefusa Kubo in attack, Parma keeper Zion Suzuki in goal and the exciting Kota Tawaratsumida having made his first few caps already.
With 48 teams in this competition, the time might be now for the Japanese to win their first-ever knockout game, after back-to-back round-of-16 appearances.
Japan have launched a lovely new home kit recently, too – and will be one of the best-dressed teams at the tournament.
Japan's squad
Japan World Cup 2026 squad: The November selection
- GK: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
- GK: Leo Kokubo (Sint-Truiden)
- GK: Taishi Brandon Nozawa (Antwerp)
- DF: Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen)
- DF: Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden)
- DF: Ko Itakura (Ajax)
- DF: Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord)
- DF: Tomoya Ando (Avispa Fukuoka)
- DF: Ayumu Seko (Le Havre)
- DF: Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)
- MF: Wataru Endo (Liverpool)
- MF: Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli)
- MF: Takumi Minamino (Monaco)
- MF: Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- MF: Keito Nakamura (Reims)
- MF: Ryunosuke Sato (Fagiano Okayama)
- MF: Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace)
- MF: Ao Tanaka (Leeds United)
- MF: Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)
- MF: Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05)
- MF: Sota Kitano (Red Bull Salzburg)
- FW: Shuto Machino (Borussia Monchengladbach)
- FW: Daizen Maeda (Celtic)
- FW: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord)
- FW: Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen)
- FW: Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)
Fixtures and results
November 18: Japan 3-0 Bolivia, Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
November 14: Japan 2-0 Ghana, Toyota Stadium, Toyota, Japan
October 14: Japan 3-2 Brazil, Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
October 10: Japan 2-2 Paraguay, Suita City Football Stadium, Osaka, Japan
September 9: United States 2-0 Japan, Lower.com Field, Ohio, United States
September 6: Mexico 0-0 Japan, Oakland Coliseum, California, United States
July 15: South Korea 0-1 Japan, Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
July 12: Japan 2-0 China, Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
July 8: Japan 6-1 Hong Kong, Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea
June 10: Japan 6-0 Indonesia, Suita City Football Stadium, Osaka, Japan
June 5: Australia 1-0 Japan, Perth Stadium, Perth, Australia
March 25: Japan 0-0 Saudi Arabia, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
March 20: Japan 2-0 Bahrain, Saitama Stadium 2002, Saitama, Japan
Manager
Who is Japan's manager?
Hajime Moriyasu will be taking charge of his second World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the USA. Japan beat both Spain and Germany in Qatar, before being knocked out at the Round of 16 on penalties by Croatia.
Moriyasu has a 69% win ration in charge of Japan, losing just 17 of the 98 he has taken charge of.
His hand was forced in the latest international break, with several players unavailable due to injury, but it gives him a chance to asses his options leading up to the World Cup.
Star player
Who is Japan's star player?
Ritsu Doan was electric at the 2022 World Cup. He bagged the equalising goal for Japan against Germany just four minutes after being subbed on in their opening group match.
In almost identical fashion, he scored an equaliser against Spain two minutes after entering the pitch as a sub. Both games they won 2-1.
He joined Frankfurt for the 2025/26 season and has already registered five goal contributions in their opening five Bundesliga games.
Best XI
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