Japan: 2026 World Cup squad confirmed
Japan have confirmed their 26-player squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Japan have quietly assembled one of the most technically gifted squads in their World Cup history, with players embedded across Europe's top leagues.
Hajime Moriyasu's side shocked the world at Qatar 2022 by beating both Germany and Spain in the group stage. That was no fluke it was the product of decades of methodical investment in youth development and a football philosophy that prizes technical precision. Japanese football reflects the country's broader cultural values: meticulous preparation, collective effort, and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing the plan is sound. Almost every player in this squad plays in Europe, a testament to the global reach of Japanese talent.
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has named his final selection for the tournament in North America.
Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad, Wataru Endo anchoring Liverpool's midfield, and the prolific Ayase Ueda at Feyenoord headline a squad with no weak links. Japan are no longer dark horses they are genuine contenders to reach the quarter-finals and beyond.
Takefusa Kubo at Real Sociedad, Wataru Endo anchoring Liverpool's midfield, and the prolific Ayase Ueda at Feyenoord headline a squad with no weak links.
Zion Suzuki - Parma
Keisuke Osako - Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Tomoki Hayakawa - Kashima Antlers
Yuta Nagatomo - FC Tokyo
Shogo Taniguchi - Sint-Truiden
Ko Itakura - Ajax
Tsuyoshi Watanabe - Feyenoord
Takehiro Tomiyasu - Ajax
Hiroki Ito - Bayern Munich
Ayumu Seko - Le Havre
Yukinari Sugawara - Werder Bremen
Junnosuke Suzuki - Copenhagen
Wataru Endo - Liverpool
Junya Ito - Genk
Daichi Kamada - Crystal Palace
Ritsu Doan - Eintracht Frankfurt
Ao Tanaka - Leeds
Keito Nakamura - Reims
Kaishu Sano - Mainz
Takefusa Kubo - Real Sociedad
Yuito Suzuki - Freiburg
Koki Ogawa - NEC Nijmegen
Daizen Maeda - Celtic
Ayase Ueda - Feyenoord
Kento Shiogai - Wolfsburg
Keisuke Goto - Sint-Truiden
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico the first edition to feature 48 nations.
