Shocking: Two star players left out as Japan announces final 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup.
On 15 May 2026, Hajime Moriyasu, coach of the Japan national team, announced the final 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from 11 June to 19 July.
The "Samurai Blue" squad is led by captain Wataru Endo, a midfielder from Liverpool in the English Premier League. However, Takumi Minamino, former Liverpool star now with Monaco in France's Ligue 1, and Kaoru Mitoma, a speedy winger from Brighton, were absent from the squad due to not recovering from injury in time. Hidemasa Morita from Sporting Lisbon also missed out.
Goalkeepers
- Saion Suzuki (Parma), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Defenders
- Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)
Midfielders
- Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Junya Ito (Genk), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kaito Nakamura (Reims), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05)
Forwards
- Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Daizen Maeda (Glasgow Celtic), Koki Okawa (NEC Nijmegen), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg)
14 June 2026: Netherlands vs Japan
20 June 2026: Tunisia vs Japan
25 June 2026: Japan vs Sweden
