Reviewed by Sports Pulse Editorial and updated when source details change.
Hajime Moriyasu named his 26-man Japan squad on May 15, 2026 at 14:00 JST, confirming the Samurai Blue’s roster for their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance. Japan enters Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia targeting a historic quarter-final berth, despite navigating significant injury concerns to key players.
Last updated: May 15, 2026.
Full 26-man squad
Goalkeepers
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zion Suzuki | Parma | 23 | 18 |
| Tomoki Hayakawa | FC Tokyo | 26 | 4 |
| Keisuke Osako | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 26 | 8 |
Defenders
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shogo Taniguchi | Sint-Truiden | 34 | 32 |
| Ko Itakura | Borussia Mönchengladbach | 29 | 35 |
| Takehiro Tomiyasu | Arsenal | 27 | 45 |
| Hiroki Ito | Bayern Munich | 27 | 22 |
| Tsuyoshi Watanabe | Gent | 29 | 10 |
| Ayumu Seko | Grasshopper | 26 | 5 |
| Junnosuke Suzuki | FC Tokyo | 22 | 1 |
| Yukinari Sugawara | AZ Alkmaar | 26 | 16 |
Midfielders
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wataru Endo (C) | Liverpool | 33 | 68 |
| Daichi Kamada | Crystal Palace | 29 | 40 |
| Kaishu Sano | Mainz 05 | 25 | 12 |
| Ao Tanaka | Fortuna Düsseldorf | 27 | 32 |
| Joel Chima Fujita | Sint-Truiden | 24 | 5 |
Wide attackers / Wing-backs
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Takefusa Kubo | Atlético Madrid | 24 | 45 |
| Kaoru Mitoma | Brighton & Hove Albion | 29 | 28 |
| Junya Ito | Reims | 33 | 60 |
| Ritsu Doan | Freiburg | 27 | 55 |
| Keito Nakamura | Reims | 25 | 18 |
| Daizen Maeda | Celtic | 28 | 22 |
Forwards
| Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord | 27 | 32 |
| Koki Ogawa | NEC Nijmegen | 28 | 10 |
| Shuto Machino | Holstein Kiel | 26 | 6 |
Key inclusions
Wataru Endo was named captain despite playing only limited minutes for Liverpool since undergoing foot surgery in February. Moriyasu’s decision reflects Endo’s irreplaceable leadership and the coaching staff’s belief he will reach full fitness during the group stage. If Endo cannot start the opener, Kaishu Sano or Ao Tanaka will anchor the midfield.
Kaoru Mitoma was selected despite a hamstring injury that limited his Brighton appearances in the second half of the season. Moriyasu is betting on Mitoma’s recovery trajectory — and the tournament’s duration — to have his most dangerous dribbler available for the decisive group matches.
Zion Suzuki retained the starting goalkeeper role after a consistent season at Parma in Serie A. The 23-year-old’s distribution and shot-stopping have made him Japan’s undisputed No. 1 ahead of the more experienced Osako.
Notable omissions
Takumi Minamino is ruled out of the World Cup with an ACL rupture sustained during Monaco’s Ligue 1 campaign. The 31-year-old was Japan’s most creative midfielder in qualifying, and his absence forces Moriyasu to reconfigure the attacking midfield structure. Minamino had 48 caps and 22 international goals and was a lock starter before the injury.
Koki Machida (Hoffenheim) was also ruled out with an ACL injury, thinning Japan’s left-sided defensive options. Yuito Suzuki (Brøndby) and Ryotaro Ito (Sint-Truiden) were on the 35-player preliminary list but missed the final 26-man cut.
Maya Yoshida (37) retired from international duty after the 2022 World Cup and was not considered.
Tactical outlook
Moriyasu has settled on a 3-4-2-1 system over the past 18 months, a significant departure from the 4-3-3 used in Qatar 2022. The back three of Itakura, Tomiyasu, and Taniguchi provides a balance of physical presence and technical build-up ability, with Hiroki Ito capable of playing both center-back and left wing-back.
The double pivot — typically Endo and Kamada — is designed to win possession and release Japan’s most dangerous weapon: the attacking quartet operating between the lines. Kubo and Mitoma play as inverted wide playmakers behind Ueda, with Ito and Nakamura providing width and crossing from the wing-back positions.
Japan’s system is built for transitions. The 3-4-2-1 becomes a 5-2-3 out of possession, compressing space and inviting opponents forward before triggering counter-attacks through Kubo and Mitoma’s dribbling ability.
The biggest tactical question is Endo’s fitness. If he cannot play, Moriyasu may shift to a 4-2-3-1 to reduce the defensive burden on the midfield pivot.
Group F outlook
Japan landed in a balanced but demanding Group F:
- vs Sweden (Los Angeles, June 15) — The opener against a well-organized Swedish side returning to the World Cup. Sweden’s physicality contrasts with Japan’s technical approach. A result here sets the tone.
- vs Tunisia (Los Angeles, June 21) — Tunisia under Lamouchi is defensively disciplined but lacks firepower. Japan’s creative depth should unlock this match.
- vs Netherlands (Vancouver, June 27) — The likely group decider. Koeman’s Netherlands is rebuilding but carries knockout-stage pedigree Japan is still chasing.
Japan should progress as group runner-up behind the Netherlands if they handle business against Sweden and Tunisia. A Round of 32 berth is the minimum expectation; reaching the quarter-finals would match the country’s best-ever World Cup result.
Fan planning links
- Group F full analysis
- Los Angeles host city guide
- Vancouver host city guide
- How to watch legally
- Squad tracker — all 48 teams
Sources checked
- JFA (Japan Football Association) official announcement
- Soccer King Japan squad projection
- NHK Sports squad coverage
- Nikkan Sports / Sports Nippon pre-announcement reporting
- SI.com Japan World Cup preview