Wataru Endo
The heartbeat of the side. A defensive midfielder at Liverpool, Endo screens the back line, sets the tempo and leads. His reading of the game is what lets Japan press high without leaving gaps in behind.
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Team Guide · 2026 World Cup
Japan: The Asian Side That Beats Giants
Japan arrive at the 2026 World Cup as the most respected Asian side in the game, and for good reason. At Qatar 2022 they beat Germany and Spain in the same group, two former world champions, and topped the group ahead of both. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu brings back a squad whose large majority play in Europe, captained by Liverpool's Wataru Endo. The draw put them in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden, and the ambition is plain: a first ever quarter-final.
F
World Cup Group
8th
Consecutive Finals
2
Giants Beaten in 2022
26
Players in the Squad
The headline. Japan beat Germany 2-1 and Spain 2-1 at Qatar 2022, won a group containing both former world champions, then lost to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16. They have reached the last 16 four times but never the quarter-finals. With a deep, Europe-based squad and an expanded 48-team knockout path, breaking that ceiling is the open ambition for 2026.
The Reputation
The Asian side that beats giants
No nation outside the traditional powers has done more to close the gap on football's elite than Japan. The reputation is not built on a single upset. It is built on a pattern.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japan were drawn into a group with Germany and Spain, two countries that have lifted the trophy a combined five times. Japan came from behind to beat Germany 2-1, lost to Costa Rica, then came from behind again to beat Spain 2-1. They finished top of the group, ahead of both. Only a penalty shootout against Croatia, after a 1-1 draw, ended their run in the round of 16.
It was not a one-off. Four years earlier in Russia, Japan led Belgium's golden generation 2-0 in the last 16 before losing 3-2 to a stoppage-time goal. The throughline is a team that does not freeze against bigger names. That is the identity Hajime Moriyasu carries into 2026.
The Engine
A squad built in Europe
The single biggest reason Japan are taken seriously is where their players spend their seasons. The large majority of the 26 play their club football in Europe, and not as squad fillers.
The captain, Wataru Endo, is a Premier League and Champions League midfielder at Liverpool. Takefusa Kubo is a creative star at Real Sociedad in LaLiga. Daichi Kamada plays in the Premier League at Crystal Palace, Ao Tanaka at Leeds United. The German top flight, the Eredivisie, Serie A and Ligue 1 are all represented across the back line and attack. Hiroki Ito is at Bayern Munich; Ayase Ueda and Tsuyoshi Watanabe play for Feyenoord.
This European spread matters in two ways. It means the players are tested weekly against the level they will meet at a World Cup, and it means the squad arrives match-sharp rather than rusty. It is the structural difference between Japan today and the Japan of two decades ago.
The Official 26
Japan's squad by position
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu named his 26-man squad on 15 May 2026: three goalkeepers, nine defenders and fourteen midfielders and forwards. Wataru Endo captains the side. Veteran full-back Yuto Nagatomo is set to become the first Asian player to feature at five different World Cups.
Goalkeepers
3 in the squad
- Zion SuzukiNo. 1
- Keisuke Osako
- Tomoki Hayakawa
Defenders
9 in the squad
- Takehiro Tomiyasu
- Ko Itakura
- Hiroki Ito
- Tsuyoshi Watanabe
- Shogo Taniguchi
- Yukinari Sugawara
- Junnosuke Suzuki
- Ayumu Seko
- Yuto NagatomoVeteran
Midfielders
6 in the squad
- Wataru EndoCaptain
- Daichi Kamada
- Ao Tanaka
- Takefusa Kubo
- Kaishu Sano
- Yuito Suzuki
Forwards
8 in the squad
- Ritsu Doan
- Junya Ito
- Keito Nakamura
- Daizen Maeda
- Ayase Ueda
- Koki Ogawa
- Keisuke Goto
- Kento Shiogai
Players to Watch
The key names
If Japan are to make history in 2026, these are the players most likely to take them there.
Takefusa Kubo
The creative star. A Real Sociedad playmaker who can drift inside off the right, beat his man and unlock a packed defence. When Japan need a moment of quality against a giant, it often comes from Kubo.
Ritsu Doan
A big-game scorer. Doan scored against both Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022, the equalisers that turned both fixtures. A direct, two-footed forward who carries an instinct for the decisive moment.
Ayase Ueda
The centre-forward. A Feyenoord striker who gives Japan a genuine focal point, holding the line and finishing the chances their quick wide players create. The kind of number nine the team lacked in earlier cycles.
Group F
The group and the opening fixture
Japan were drawn into Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden. It is a balanced, beatable group, and exactly the sort of draw a team with quarter-final ambitions wants.
- Match 1: Netherlands vs Japan, 14 June 2026, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas. The opener and the toughest test, against a Dutch side full of European pedigree.
- Match 2: Tunisia vs Japan, 20 June 2026, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico. A change of country and climate, against an organised African side.
- Match 3: Japan vs Sweden, 25 June 2026, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas. A final group game back in Texas that could decide top spot.
With the 2026 tournament expanded to 48 teams, the four best third-placed sides also progress, which widens Japan's path out of the group. The realistic target is to finish first or second and set up a knockout run that finally breaks the round-of-16 ceiling. You can track all three fixtures on the full match schedule or follow the wider Group F guide.
The Ambition
The case for a first quarter-final
Japan have reached the round of 16 four times: 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022. They have never gone further. Here is why 2026 is the best chance yet to change that.
- The squad is deeper than ever. A large, Europe-based core means Moriyasu can rotate across a long tournament without a drop in level, an advantage in a competition that now runs to a bigger knockout bracket.
- They beat the best on the biggest stage. The 2022 wins over Germany and Spain were not flukes. Japan have a proven template for beating elite sides: a disciplined low-to-mid block, fast transitions and clinical finishing.
- A favourable format. The expanded 48-team World Cup gives third-placed sides a route through and softens the early knockout draw, easing the path to a quarter-final.
- Settled leadership. Moriyasu has coached the team since 2018 and knows this group intimately. Continuity at the top is rare and valuable at a World Cup.
- The injuries are survivable. Losing Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino hurts, but the attacking depth of Kubo, Doan, Nakamura, Maeda and Ueda means Japan still carry a serious goal threat.
Left at Home
The notable absentees
Every squad is shaped by who misses out. For Japan in 2026, the absences are driven largely by injury rather than form, and they cost the team real quality on the wings.
Kaoru Mitoma
The biggest blow. The Brighton winger, one of Japan's most dangerous attackers, was ruled out through injury. Moriyasu described the loss as a huge blow to the team's attacking plans.
Takumi Minamino
A second injury absence. The Monaco forward misses the tournament, compounding the loss of Mitoma and stretching the depth of Japan's wide and attacking options.
Hidemasa Morita
A selection call rather than an injury. The midfielder, a regular through qualifying, misses the final cut as Moriyasu settles the balance of his engine room.
Questions & Answers
Frequently asked questions
Who is Japan's head coach at the 2026 World Cup?
Hajime Moriyasu is Japan's head coach. He has led the national team since 2018 and takes the Samurai Blue to a second consecutive World Cup after guiding them to the knockout stage at Qatar 2022.
What group is Japan in at the 2026 World Cup?
Japan are in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden. The group plays its matches between 14 and 25 June 2026 across host cities in the United States and Mexico.
When and where is Japan's opening 2026 World Cup match?
Japan open against the Netherlands on 14 June 2026 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. They then face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on 20 June and Sweden back in Arlington on 25 June.
Who is the captain of Japan's 2026 World Cup squad?
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo captains Japan. The defensive midfielder is the heartbeat of the side and leads a squad built around a large, Europe-based core.
Did Japan really beat Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup?
Yes. At Qatar 2022 Japan came from behind to beat Germany 2-1 and then beat Spain 2-1, topping a group that contained both former world champions before losing to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16.
How did Japan qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Japan qualified through the Asian (AFC) qualifiers and became the first non-host nation to confirm a place at the 2026 tournament, sealing qualification in March 2025 with three matches to spare after a home win over Bahrain.
Is Kaoru Mitoma in Japan's 2026 World Cup squad?
No. Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out through injury and is not in the 26. Moriyasu called it a huge blow. Takumi Minamino was also ruled out injured, and Hidemasa Morita missed the cut.
Who are Japan's key players for the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Wataru Endo anchors the midfield, Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo is the creative star, and Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Keito Nakamura and forwards Ayase Ueda and Daizen Maeda lead the attack. Zion Suzuki is the first-choice goalkeeper.
How many of Japan's players are based in Europe?
The large majority of the 26 play their club football in Europe, across the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga, the Eredivisie and Ligue 1. This Europe-based core is the central reason Japan are taken seriously as giant-killers.
Can Japan reach the quarter-finals for the first time in 2026?
It is a realistic target. Japan have reached the round of 16 four times but never the quarter-finals. The expanded 48-team format gives a clearer knockout path, and a deep, Europe-based squad makes a first quarter-final the headline ambition for 2026.
Keep Reading
More 2026 World Cup coverage
Japan are one of 48 nations heading to the 2026 World Cup. Explore the rest of the WorldCuply.com guide:
Group F Guide
Japan, the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden: the full Group F preview, fixtures and knockout chances.
See Group F ›England Squad
Thomas Tuchel's official 26, the headline omissions led by Phil Foden and Cole Palmer, and the surprise call-ups.
Read the England guide ›Superstars to Watch
The top players going to the 2026 World Cup, and where Japan's Takefusa Kubo fits among them.
View the superstars ›Match Schedule
All 104 fixtures across 16 host cities, with kickoff times you can filter to Japan.
Open the schedule ›Sources
Where this page gets its facts
This page is independent editorial coverage compiled from the following reporting on Japan's 2026 World Cup squad, group and fixtures:
- Nippon.com - Japan's full 26-man 2026 World Cup squad by position and club.
- Olympics.com - squad announcement, the Mitoma omission and Moriyasu's reaction.
- FIFA.com - Japan's official Group F fixtures, dates and venues.
- 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F (Wikipedia) - group composition and match schedule.
- ESPN - analysis of Japan's Europe-based squad and 2026 prospects.
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