The Japan Football Association (JFA) confirmed on the evening of May 11 that three key players will be absent from the squad for the 2026 World Cup: striker Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino (Monaco), and central midfielder Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon).
According to the official announcement, none of the three players will recover in time to compete in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is a heavy blow for Japan, as Mitoma and Minamino are mainstays of the frontline, while Morita controls the midfield tempo.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu will now need to reshuffle his lineup, with Japan facing a tough group stage. The final 23-man squad is expected to be announced on May 13.
This marks the first time since 2018 that all three key players have missed a World Cup for Japan—when the side played without Shinji Kagawa and Yuto Nagatomo due to injuries.
