Japan at the FIFA World Cup 2026

History

Japan have qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1998, making 2026 their eighth consecutive appearance. Their best results came in 2002 (as co-hosts with South Korea), 2010, and 2022, when they each time reached the round of 16. At Qatar 2022, Japan produced one of the tournament's biggest shocks by beating Germany and Spain in the group stage before narrowly losing to Croatia on penalties in the last 16. Japan have 0 world titles and have never reached the quarter-finals.

Qualification

Japan qualified from the AFC Third Round, winning their qualifying group with a dominant campaign. They became the first nation to officially clinch a spot at the 2026 World Cup, sealing qualification on March 20, 2025 with a victory over Bahrain. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu, whose contract was extended after Qatar 2022, guided the Samurai Blue through a group that included China, Bahrain, and others, finishing as group winners with a significant points margin.

Preparation

Japan announced their final 26-man squad on May 15, 2026. The most notable absentee was winger Kaoru Mitoma, ruled out with a hamstring injury. In March 2026, Japan played two impressive away friendlies: a 1-0 win over Scotland and a 1-0 win over England at Wembley, England's first ever home defeat to an Asian side. They beat Iceland 1-0 in their final pre-tournament friendly on May 31. The squad then flew to Monterrey for a heat-acclimatisation camp before settling at their Nashville base. Captain Wataru Endo was withdrawn from the squad on June 11 after a Lisfranc ligament injury and announced his international retirement; Shuto Machino (Borussia Monchengladbach) replaced him, and Ko Itakura was named captain. In their World Cup opener on June 14 at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands. Van Dijk and Summerville gave the Dutch two leads, but Keito Nakamura and Daichi Kamada (89') equalised both times. However, substitute Takefusa Kubo suffered a left knee injury in a collision with Dumfries at 75'. Japan thrashed Tunisia 4-0 in their second Group F match (Kamada 4', Ueda 31', Junya Ito 69', Ueda 83'), the largest winning margin by an AFC team in World Cup history. In their final group game on June 25, Daizen Maeda (56') put Japan ahead against Sweden before Anthony Elanga equalised (62'); the 1-1 draw left Japan second in Group F with 5 points. Captain Ko Itakura was withdrawn at 39' with a minor apparent injury but is expected to start in the Round of 32. Japan faced Brazil in the Round of 32 on June 29 in Houston. Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead in the 29th minute, but Casemiro equalised for Brazil in the 56th and Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner (90+5'). Brazil won 2-1 and advanced to the Round of 16; Japan were eliminated. Both Takefusa Kubo and Ko Itakura were named among the substitutes but did not play.

Latest news

Japan eliminated: Brazil come from behind to win 2-1 in Round of 32

· matches

Kaishu Sano put Japan ahead in the 29th minute at Houston Stadium, but Casemiro equalised for Brazil in the 56th and Gabriel Martinelli scored a stoppage-time winner in the 90+5th minute. Brazil advance to the Round of 16; Japan are eliminated. Both Takefusa Kubo and Ko Itakura were named among the substitutes but did not play.

Kubo highly unlikely for Brazil R32; Itakura expected to start despite early exit vs Sweden

· injuries

Preview reports dated June 27 confirm Takefusa Kubo is 'still not training fully owing to a knee injury, so an appearance in the last 32 is considered highly unlikely' for the June 29 match vs Brazil. Ko Itakura, withdrawn in the 39th minute vs Sweden, is 'not believed to be serious' and is projected to start as captain vs Brazil at NRG Stadium, Houston.

Japan draw 1-1 with Sweden to finish second in Group F; face Brazil in Round of 32 on June 29

· matches

Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 56th minute (assisted by Ritsu Doan) at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, before Anthony Elanga equalised for Sweden in the 62nd minute. Both teams advanced: Japan finish 2nd in Group F with 5 points, Sweden 3rd with 4 points. Ko Itakura left the field at 39' with an apparent injury. Japan face Brazil in the Round of 32 on June 29 at NRG Stadium, Houston.

Kubo officially ruled out vs Sweden; returns to individual training with knockout return in sight

· injuries

Takefusa Kubo has been officially ruled out of Japan's Group F finale against Sweden (June 25, Dallas). He will remain at the Nashville base camp rather than travelling to AT&T Stadium. However, Kubo has returned to individual training and Japan's staff are hopeful he can feature in the knockout stage if the Samurai Blue advance.

Japan thrash Tunisia 4-0; historic win for Asian football as Ueda bags brace

· matches

Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 at Estadio Monterrey (Group F match 2), level with Netherlands on four points. Kamada 4', Ueda 31', Junya Ito 69', Ueda 83' (header). Largest winning margin by an AFC team in World Cup history. Tunisia eliminated; Japan face Sweden on June 25.

Japan move from Nashville to Monterrey to prepare for Tunisia clash; Kubo continues rehabilitation

· general

Japan relocated from their Nashville base to Monterrey, Mexico on June 18-19 local time, following a mostly closed training session near Nashville on June 18. The squad is preparing for their second Group F match against Tunisia at Estadio BBVA (June 20 local time). Kubo remains in the squad but continues rehabilitation and cannot train with the group.

MRI confirms Kubo left knee injury; Japanese media report group-stage return 'virtually hopeless'

· injuries

An MRI on June 18 confirmed Takefusa Kubo sustained a left knee injury during Japan's 2-2 draw with the Netherlands. Japanese media reported his chances of playing vs Tunisia (June 20) were 'virtually hopeless'. Kubo remained in the squad but could not train, focusing on rehabilitation at the team hotel.

Japan draw 2-2 with Netherlands in World Cup opener; Kamada equalises in 89th minute

· matches

Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their World Cup Group F opener at AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Van Dijk (51') and Summerville (64') gave the Dutch two leads; Nakamura (57') and Kamada (89') equalised both times. Kamada's header from a Junya Ito corner deflected in off the goalkeeper. Kubo came on at 75' but suffered a left knee injury in a collision with Dumfries.

Kubo suffers left knee injury against Netherlands; leaves AT&T Stadium in wheelchair

· injuries

Kubo came on at 75' against the Netherlands but suffered a left knee injury in a knee-on-knee collision with Dumfries, leaving the stadium in a wheelchair. He told reporters he thought he 'had been grabbed from all sides' and expressed cautious optimism, but subsequent MRI results raised serious doubts about his availability for the remaining group matches.

Endo withdraws from World Cup squad, announces international retirement; Machino called up

· squad

Captain Wataru Endo was withdrawn from Japan's World Cup squad on June 11 after re-injuring his left foot (Lisfranc ligament damage) at the Nashville training camp. Endo announced his international retirement on social media, ending a career of 73 caps and 4 goals. Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino was called up as his replacement. Ko Itakura (Ajax) takes over as captain.

Endo rejoins full team training in Nashville; Moriyasu says medical reports clear him to play

· injuries

At Japan's first session at their Nashville base (open practice at GEODIS Park, June 8), captain Wataru Endo rejoined the full team for the first time since his half-time exit against Iceland, doing jogging and passing drills after training apart in Monterrey. Moriyasu said medical reports show 'nothing to say that he can't play... we believe, pray and wait'.

Japan open Nashville base camp before 5,000-plus fans; Minamino joins as a support member

· general

Japan moved from Monterrey to their World Cup base in Nashville and held their first session at GEODIS Park on June 8 before more than 5,000 fans. Captain Endo gave an English speech vowing to reach 'scenery Japanese football has never seen'. Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco) joined the squad in a support/mentor role. Japan face the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas on June 14.

Endo misses Monterrey camp for a third straight day with left-foot concern; Seko returns to partial work

· injuries

Wataru Endo missed Monterrey training a second and third day (June 4-5) with a left-foot instep issue from his half-time exit in the May 31 Iceland friendly, alone at the hotel, only briefly at the ground on day three. Ayumu Seko ran only on day one, partly rejoined ball work on day two but skipped the closing mini-game. Japan move to Nashville June 8 before the June 14 opener vs the Netherlands.

Japan open Monterrey heat camp; Endo trains apart with foot discomfort, Kamada joins after CL final

· matches

Japan opened their first pre-World Cup session in Monterrey, Mexico on June 3 in 33C-plus heat, switching to mornings and changing venue after poor grass. Captain Wataru Endo trained alone at the hotel with foot discomfort from the May 31 Iceland match; Ayumu Seko did a separate menu. Kamada joined after winning the UEFA Conference League. Five days in Monterrey precede the Nashville camp.

Japan beat Iceland 1-0 in final World Cup warm-up; Ogawa heads late winner

· matches

In the Kirin Challenge Cup 2026 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan edged a defensive Iceland 1-0 in their final friendly before the World Cup. Substitute Koki Ogawa headed the only goal in the 87th minute from a Yukinari Sugawara cross. Japan lined up in a 3-4-2-1 with Zion Suzuki in goal.

Squad

PlayerPositionClub
Zion SuzukiGKParma
Keisuke OsakoGKSanfrecce Hiroshima
Tomoki HayakawaGKKashima Antlers
Yuto NagatomoDFFC Tokyo
Shogo TaniguchiDFSint-Truiden
Tsuyoshi WatanabeDFFeyenoord
Junnosuke SuzukiDFFC Copenhagen
Hiroki ItoDFBayern Munich
Ko ItakuraDFAjax
Takehiro TomiyasuDFAjax
Ayumu SekoDFLe Havre
Yukinari SugawaraDFWerder Bremen
Daichi KamadaMFCrystal Palace
Kaishu SanoMFMainz 05
Ao TanakaMFLeeds United
Junya ItoMFKRC Genk
Ritsu DoanMFEintracht Frankfurt
Keito NakamuraMFStade de Reims
Takefusa KuboMFReal Sociedad
Yuito SuzukiMFSC Freiburg
Daizen MaedaFWCeltic
Ayase UedaFWFeyenoord
Koki OgawaFWNEC Nijmegen
Keisuke GotoFWSint-Truiden
Kento ShiogaiFWVfL Wolfsburg
Shuto MachinoFWBorussia Monchengladbach

Recent results

  • 2023-11-16 — JPN 5-0 MYA (qualification)
  • 2023-11-21 — SYR 0-5 JPN (qualification)
  • 2024-01-01 — JPN 5-0 THA (friendly)
  • 2024-01-09 — JPN 6-1 JOR (friendly)
  • 2024-03-21 — JPN 1-0 PRK (qualification)
  • 2024-06-06 — MYA 0-5 JPN (qualification)
  • 2024-06-11 — JPN 5-0 SYR (qualification)
  • 2024-09-05 — JPN 7-0 CHN (qualification)
  • 2024-09-10 — BHR 0-5 JPN (qualification)
  • 2024-10-10 — KSA 0-2 JPN (qualification)
  • 2024-10-15 — JPN 1-1 AUS (qualification)
  • 2024-11-15 — IDN 0-4 JPN (qualification)
  • 2024-11-19 — CHN 1-3 JPN (qualification)
  • 2025-03-20 — JPN 2-0 BHR (qualification)
  • 2025-03-25 — JPN 0-0 KSA (qualification)
  • 2025-06-05 — AUS 1-0 JPN (qualification)
  • 2025-06-10 — JPN 6-0 IDN (qualification)
  • 2025-09-06 — MEX 0-0 JPN (friendly)
  • 2025-09-09 — USA 2-0 JPN (friendly)
  • 2026-03-28 — SCO 0-1 JPN (friendly)
  • 2026-03-31 — ENG 0-1 JPN (friendly)
  • 2026-05-31 — JPN 1-0 ISL (friendly)
  • 2026-06-14 — NED 2-2 JPN (group)
  • 2026-06-21 — TUN 0-4 JPN (group)
  • 2026-06-25 — JPN 1-1 SWE (group)
  • 2026-06-29 — BRA 2-1 JPN (round_of_32)

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