List of players for the Japanese national team for the 2026 World Cup.

Since their first appearance in France in 1998, the Japanese national team has never missed a FIFA World Cup. They were the first non-host nation to qualify for the tournament in North America this summer, easily finishing top of their Asian qualifying group to secure their eighth consecutive appearance in the finals.

At the most recent World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Japan made a strong impression by defeating two football powerhouses, Germany and Spain, to top their group. They were only eliminated in the round of 16 after a thrilling penalty shootout against Croatia – a very strong opponent from Europe.

This time, Japan faced the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia in the group stage. The team entered the tournament confident after having just defeated England in a friendly at Wembley in March. The victory against the Three Lions away from home was proof of Japan's top form and competitive spirit leading up to the World Cup.

The Japanese national team participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 has the following basic information: captain is Endo Wataru, head coach is Moriyasu Hajime. This is Japan's eighth World Cup appearance in history, including the 2026 tournament. Their best performance in previous World Cups was reaching the Round of 16 (in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022).

List of the Japanese national team for the FIFA World Cup 2026

The Japanese national team participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 boasts a roster featuring many stars currently playing in top leagues in Europe and Japan. The list of players is divided by their positions on the field as follows.

Goalkeeper:Hayakawa Tomoki, Suzuki Zion, Osako Keisuke.

Defender:Nagatomo Yuto, Taniguchi Shogo, Tomiyasu Takehiro, Itakura Ko, Watanabe Tsuyoshi, Hiroki Ito, Suzuki Junnosuke, Seko Ayumu, Sugawara Yukinari.

Midfielder andforward:Kamada Daichi, Sano Kaishu, Tanaka Ao, Endo Wataru, Nakamura Keito, Doan Ritsu, Ito Junya, Kubo Takefusa, Suzuki Yuito, Ueda Ayase, Ogawa Koki, Maeda Daizen, Shiogai Kento, Goto Keisuke.

Japan's group stage schedule at the FIFA World Cup 2026

Japan's group stage matches at the 2026 World Cup will take place in two co-hosting countries, the United States and Mexico. All match times will be calculated according to Pacific Time (PDT).