Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said the team can win the 2026 World Cup even after Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out with a hamstring injury just before the squad announcement [1, 2]. Mitoma, 28, will miss the tournament entirely due to the injury sustained less than a week before Japan announced its 26-player squad [1, 2]. Moriyasu cited the team’s depth and cohesion, noting Japan beat Brazil last year in a friendly without Mitoma. "That reflects the team concept, that anyone can come into the line-up and the team still performs," he said [1].

Japan also faces the absence of Monaco’s Takumi Minamino, who injured his knee ligaments in December and will miss the World Cup [1, 2]. However, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo and Ajax’s Takehiro Tomiyasu have recovered from long-term injuries in time to join the squad [2]. Tomiyasu, recalled after his injury and move to Ajax, vowed to repay Japan’s faith. "I feel a sense of responsibility because I was picked for the squad even in these circumstances. I want to repay that faith with my performances on the pitch," he said [3].

Japan qualified first for the 2026 tournament and has never progressed beyond the last 16 in World Cup history [1, 2]. The team is placed in Group F along with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia [1, 3]. Japan will open its campaign against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14, 2026 [1, 3].

Half of Japan’s squad also played in the 2022 World Cup, building on recent historic friendly wins over Brazil in October 2025 (3-2) and England in March 2026 (1-0) [1, 2]. Both friendlies featured line-ups made up entirely of Europe-based players. Japan’s World Cup squad includes only three players from the domestic J. League, with key attackers like Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda, Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada, and Real Sociedad’s Takefusa Kubo expected to play major roles [4, 2].

Moriyasu said after the wins over Brazil and England, the players quickly focused on bigger goals ahead. "Of course the players were happy... but I sensed an atmosphere where the players quickly shifted their focus to a bigger goal ahead," he said [5].

Japan will face its first match against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14, 2026, aiming to advance beyond the round of 16 for the first time.