Japan have stunned fans with their latest squad announcement as it was revealed that two top players have been dropped ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Japan have named a squad many have categorised as formidable ahead of the 2026 World Cup scheduled to commence in June 2026.
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has confirmed his 26-man squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup 2026, with injured Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma the biggest name missing from the list.
Moriyasu has taken a calculated risk by including a number of players who are either recovering from injuries or have only recently returned to action. Wataru Endo, Ko Itakura and Takehiro Tomiyasu have all been named in the squad, but there is no place for Mitoma or Takumi Minamino.
The squad still carries plenty of experience, with veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo included for what will be his fifth appearance at a World Cup.
Speaking after announcing the team, Moriyasu admitted that leaving out several players was difficult, but insisted he had selected the strongest possible group for the tournament.
“I could only choose 26 players, and I feel sorry for those who missed out,” Moriyasu said. “However, after reviewing performances and discussing with the coaching staff, we believe this is the best squad available right now. These are the players we feel can help Japan compete and win on the world stage.”
Japan’s 2026 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa, Keisuke Osako, Zion Suzuki
Defenders: Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Yuto Nagatomo, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki, Shogo Taniguchi, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Tsuyoshi Watanabe
Midfielders: Ritsu Doan, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Ao Tanaka
Forwards: Keisuke Goto, Daizen Maeda, Koki Ogawa, Kento Shiogai, Yuito Suzuki, Ayase Ueda
Other countries that have named their squad are: Argentina, Sweden, France and many more.