Injury sidelines Kaoru Mitoma from Japan's 2026 World Cup squad

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu officially announced the 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, to be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States, on Friday (15 May 2026). However, the lineup does not include winger Kaoru Mitoma because of injury.

Alongside Mitoma, other experienced players left out include midfielder Takumi Minamino and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima. Mitoma’s absence — the Brighton & Hove Albion star is considered a major blow to Japan’s attack.

The squad features many players based in Europe, including key figures such as Ritsu Doan (Freiburg, Germany), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad, Spain) and Wataru Endo (Liverpool, England). Moriyasu said he made his selections based on current form and each player’s injury status.