Former captain Maya Yoshida will return to the Japan national team in the role of a 'support player' for the World Cup campaign, beginning with the pre-tournament training camp in Mexico. The announcement was made by the Japan Football Association (JFA) on May 28.
This new role allows Yoshida, one of Japan's most experienced defenders, to contribute his expertise without being officially named to the tournament squad. He will join the team at the training camp in Mexico before they travel to Qatar for the World Cup.
Yoshida captained the Samurai Blue at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Japan impressed with victories over Germany and Spain before exiting in the round of 16. He currently plays for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (USA).
With Yoshida's addition, Japan hopes to leverage the deep experience of the 35-year-old, who has earned over 120 caps for the national team. The JFA stated that this support role is intended to boost the team's preparation and morale ahead of the World Cup.
