Japan National Team at the 2026 Cup: Roster, Predictions, and Statistics
The Japanese national team has been regularly participating in the World Cup since 1998. The team plays a leading role in Asia and has no problems with qualifying. The Samurais are known for their strong character and are considered a team you'd rather not face in important matches. The upcoming World Cup is unlikely to be an exception to this rule.
The bookmaker generously assesses the Japanese team's chances in the tournament – their victory is priced at odds of 65.0*. And this is mid-range, which looks pretty good. Let's analyze the composition of the Asian team and offer a forecast for their performance in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
In brief:
- The 2026 World Cup will be the eighth in history for the Japanese national team.
- The head coach is Hajime Moriyasu. A local specialist who played 35 matches for the national team as a footballer.
- Japan is the only Asian team that managed to win against England at Wembley. This happened in March 2026.
- The team will play in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden.
- The odds of the Japanese team advancing from the group stage are 1.27*.
The Japanese squad for the 2026 World Cup
Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki (Parma), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima).
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Tokyo), Sego Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ko Itakura (both Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Hiroki Ito (Bayern), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen).
Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Junya Ito (Genk), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht), Ao Tanaka (Leeds), Kaisei Sano (Mainz), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg).
Forwards: Koki Ogawa (NEC), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden), Keito Nakamura (Reims).
Head coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Main Star
Japan is probably good at having a balanced selection of players. However, one person stands out - Yuto Nagatomo. The true legend of the Samurais will participate in the World Cup at the age of 39. This is his fifth World Cup – an absolute record for Japanese football.
Main Problem of Japan
The team often performs well in the group stage of the World Cup. However, beyond that – nothing. The Japanese sometimes show excessive zeal on the field, and balance is important in knockout matches. And of course, physical strength is still a factor: this has also been a problem in recent decades.
Young Talent
Takefusa Kubo is one of the team's main hopes for the World Cup. He currently plays for Real Sociedad. He is the main creative figure in Japan's attack. The footballer has already played nearly 50 matches for the national team. In La Liga this season, Kubo has two goals and four assists. But there's one issue – an injury that kept Takefusa out of play from January to April.
Who will miss the 2026 World Cup
The main loss can be considered Kaoru Mitoma. One of the most important attacking players for the Japanese national team tore his knee ligament.In late April, he suffered a tendon injury while playing for Brighton. Mitoma is considered the Samurais" main attacking weapon according to analysts. Without him, the team loses a key figure on the left flank.
Another significant loss is Takumi Minamino. The Monaco striker knew long ago that he would be left out of the tournament squad. He suffered an injury at the end of 2025 and is still undergoing treatment.
Form of the Japan National Team
Qualification
Japan was the first team in the world to qualify for the World Cup through the qualifying cycle. The team did this back in March 2025. In the third stage of qualification, the Japanese took first place in the group, winning seven out of ten possible matches. It's worth noting their defense: during this period, they only conceded three goals.
Recent Results
Having completed the qualifying cycle, Japan focused on friendly matches. Currently, the team is on a winning streak, and in most of the recent matches, they haven't conceded any goals. Notably, they achieved victories over Brazil (3:2) and England (1:0).
Preparation for the World Cup
The Japanese decided to focus on the training process before the start of the 2026 World Cup. Unlike other teams, they have planned only one friendly match, and this is a very interesting approach, as Iceland is not considered a top-tier opponent. Likely, this is a covert preparation for Sweden, but this is only partly true, as the level of resistance is completely different. Japan beat Iceland thanks to a goal at the end of the match (1:0).
World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
Date (start time CET) | Opponent | Stadium | Odds for the win |
June 14, 22:00 | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, USA) | 3.50* | |
June 21, 6:00 | Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico) | 1.89* | |
June 26, 1:00 | AT&T Stadium (Arlington, USA) | 2.11* |
Japan's Chances of Advancing from the Group
Yes, the Japanese do have squad issues, but the bookmaker rates the team highly in the group. The odds of them advancing from it are 1.27*. The game against Tunisia in the second round promises to be the most important, and, in case of a victory, one more draw will be enough to move on. Just a reminder: it's possible to advance to the playoffs even from the third place.
Odds for the Japan National Team at the 2026 World Cup
Bet | Odds |
Will advance from the group | 1.27 |
Will finish first in the group | 3.40 |
Will finish second in the group | 2.90 |
Will score more than 4 points | 2.00 |
Will advance to the ⅛ finals | 2.25 |
Will advance to the ¼ finals | 4.50 |
Will advance to the semifinals | 13 |
Will advance to the final | 30 |
Will win the World Championship | 65 |
Scores24 Prediction for Japan's National Team
Japan is a dark horse. They can surprise in every single match. The group stage will be challenging for the team, as there are interesting squads from Europe among the opponents. However, considering the instability of the Swedes, we believe it's worth taking a risk and betting on Japan's team advancing from the group from the second place with odds of 2.90*.
More predictions for all 2026 World Cup matches will be available in the tournament section starting from June 9.
*Odds are approximate, may vary in different bookmakers and are current at the time of publication
If you are interested in detailed analyses of the chances of the top national teams at the 2026 World Cup, you can also read the following articles:
FAQ
Who is the head coach of the Japanese national football team?
Hajime Moriyasu. A local expert, he played 35 matches for the national team. He has been coaching the main team since 2018.
Who is the captain of the Japanese national football team?
Wataru Endo. The Liverpool footballer plays a crucial role in team formations. He has played more than 70 matches for the national team.
How many times has Japan won the World Cup?
Not once. The team regularly qualifies for the latest championships, however, they have never advanced beyond the ⅛ finals (the World Cup will be held in a new format in 2026).
Who is the top scorer in the history of the Japanese national team?
Kunishige Kamamoto. It is he who holds the title of the top scorer for the Japanese national team in history. He has scored 75 goals, which were netted between 1964 and 1977. This record is virtually impossible to surpass.
Who will the Japanese national team play against at the 2026 World Cup?
The Japanese team's opponents in the group stage of the World Cup will be the national teams of the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden.
What are the odds for Japan's victory at the 2026 World Cup?
Bookmakers are offering odds of 65.0 for a Japanese victory.
