Japan’s World Cup campaign suffered a major blow as Brighton midfielder Kaoru Mitoma was left off the squad for the 2026 tournament due to a hamstring injury. Mitoma was hurt during Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League win over Wolves last weekend.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu announced in Tokyo on Friday: “The medical team assessed that he would be unlikely to recover full fitness in time for the tournament.” The 28-year-old, who has scored nine goals for Japan, netted a decisive winner in a 1-0 friendly victory over England at Wembley in March. He also played a key role in Japan’s shock wins over Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup, where the Samurai Blue fell to Croatia on penalties in the Round of 16.
In addition to Mitoma, Monaco forward Takumi Minamino will miss the tournament after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in late December last year.
Meanwhile, Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu was named in the 26-man squad despite not having played for the Samurai Blue in nearly two years due to injury. Tomiyasu last featured for Japan in a World Cup qualifier against Syria on June 11, 2024.
The squad also includes Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), and 39-year-old defender Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo). Wolfsburg’s Kento Shiogai, who made his debut in a 1-0 win over Scotland in March, was also called up.
Japan are drawn in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. They open their campaign against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas on June 14. They face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on June 20 and Sweden in Arlington on June 25. Before the tournament, Japan will play a final friendly against Iceland on May 31 before heading to Nashville, Tennessee for a training camp.
Japan squad for the 2026 World Cup:
Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki, Keisuke Osako, Tomoki Hayakawa.
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki.
Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Ao Tanaka, Kaishu Sano, Takefusa Kubo, Yuito Suzuki.
Forwards: Daizen Maeda, Koki Ogawa, Ayase Ueda, Keito Nakamura, Kento Shiogai, Keisuke Goto.
