Japan announce 26-man squad for FIFA World Cup 2026 ft. Takefusa Kubo
(Courtesy : Getty)
Kaoru Mitoma has been left out of the squad due to injury.
Japan’s prospects of making it past the round of 16 for the first time have been severely damaged by the exclusion of injured Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma from their World Cup roster.
During Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League victory against Wolves last weekend, the 28-year-old sustained a hamstring injury.
“The medical team assessed that it would be difficult for him to get back to fitness during the tournament,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said in naming his squad in Tokyo on Friday.
Takumi Minamino, an attacker for Monaco, was also sidelined after rupturing his left knee’s anterior cruciate ligament in late December.
Japan’s campaign will begin on June 14 in Arlington, Texas, against the Netherlands.
One of Japan’s top performers, Mitoma scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 friendly victory over England at Wembley in March. He also contributed significantly to his nation’s unexpected victories over Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Japan ultimately lost to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, an Ajax defender who hasn’t played for the Samurai Blue for nearly two years owing to a string of ailments, was included in the 26-man roster.
The central-back last represented Japan in a World Cup qualifying match against Syria on June 11, 2024. He presently plays for Ajax after his contract with Arsenal was terminated by mutual consent last year.
Japan’s official squad for FIFA World Cup 2026
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.
Which big names has been left of Japan squad?
Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton.
Which World Cup group are they in?
They are in Group F.
When is their first game?
15 June, 1:30 am IST.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.