Breaking the Ceiling

Japan's World Cup history reads like a stuck record: qualify, impress, lose in the round of 16. In 2002, as co-hosts, they reached the last 16 and fell to Turkey. In 2010, they went out on penalties to Paraguay. In 2018, they led Belgium 2-0 and lost 3-2 in the final seconds. In 2022, they topped a group containing Spain and Germany — beating both — and then lost to Croatia on penalties. Four consecutive round-of-16 exits. Each one slightly more painful than the last, each one reinforcing the suspicion that this team's ceiling is not talent or organization but something harder to name. Hajime Moriyasu has named his 26. It is a squad overwhelmingly drawn from European clubs — only three of the 26, including two goalkeepers, play domestically. The European migration of Japanese football is now so advanced that the squad list reads like a tour of the continent's top five leagues and beyond: Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Real Sociedad, Feyenoord, Ajax, Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Celtic, Eintracht Frankfurt, Freiburg, Wolfsburg. The biggest absence is Kaoru Mitoma. Brighton's electric winger, who scored the winner in Japan's victory over England in March, suffered a hamstring injury in a 3-0 win over Wolves the weekend before the squad announcement. Moriyasu said a return during the tournament would be "difficult." Takumi Minamino of Monaco has been out since December with an ACL injury. Two significant losses in attack, both removing a dimension Japan will need to replace.

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Kubo

Takefusa Kubo · Real Sociedad

Takefusa Kubo remains one of the key figures in this squad.

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Captain Wataru Endo of Liverpool is the anchor. The defensive midfielder, with over 70 caps, suffered a bad ankle injury in April but recovered in time for selection — a relief for a squad that depends on his screening and leadership. Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, at 25, is the squad's most gifted attacker and carries the additional weight of Mitoma's absence. He will need to be the creative fulcrum in a squad that has lost two of its most dangerous wide players. Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace brings intelligence and directness from midfield. Ao Tanaka of Leeds United adds energy and physicality. Yuto Nagatomo, 39, will play his fifth consecutive World Cup — the first Asian player to do so. He is at FC Tokyo now, far from the San Siro years with Inter Milan, but his selection speaks to what he represents: continuity, experience, and a dressing room presence that cannot be replicated by younger players. He has 144 caps. He has seen everything. Takehiro Tomiyasu, now at Ajax after leaving Arsenal, last played for Japan in June 2024 — a two-year absence caused by a series of injuries. His inclusion is a gamble on fitness and class. Hiroki Ito of Bayern Munich returns to bolster a back line that can play in a three or a four. Without Mitoma and Minamino, the attacking burden falls on Kubo, Keito Nakamura of Reims, and Ritsu Doan of Eintracht Frankfurt. Daizen Maeda of Celtic, tireless and aggressive, offers a different profile as a center forward. Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord is the more natural goal-scorer. Mitoma's ability to beat a defender in a one-on-one and create something from nothing is not easily replaced. Japan will need Kubo to carry that responsibility, and he will need support.

The squad Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Zion Suzuki (Parma), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen) Midfielders/Forwards: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), 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)

Japan are in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden. The Netherlands are among the tournament favorites. Japan open against them on June 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, then face Tunisia at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Sweden back in Dallas. In 2022, Japan beat Germany and Spain in the group stage. This time, beating the Netherlands would be an upset of similar magnitude. Japan are capable of it — they have the players, the tactical discipline, and the tournament experience. What they have not yet demonstrated, across four consecutive last-16 exits, is the ability to win the match after the one that matters most.

This is the squad that will try.

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Kubo

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