Japan
JPN · AFC
Head Coach
Hajime Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu leads Japan into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with guiding the squad through a competitive Group F and beyond. The coaching staff has been preparing tactical approaches tailored to the expanded 48-team tournament format.
Group Stage Venue
Seattle
Japan will play their group stage matches in Seattle. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — with matches spread across 16 world-class venues.
Squad (26 players)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Recent Form & Current State
Japan dominated AFC qualification, winning their group convincingly. Under Hajime Moriyasu, they have become one of Asia's most consistent and exciting teams. With numerous players at top European clubs, they are genuine contenders to go deep in the tournament.
Form heading into a major tournament is often a key indicator of how far a team can progress. Japan, currently ranked #18 in the FIFA World Rankings, will look to carry momentum from their recent qualifying and friendly campaigns into the group stage. Consistency in results and squad cohesion built during the qualification cycle will be vital assets. The AFCrepresentatives will be eager to demonstrate their quality on the world's biggest stage in 2026.
World Cup History
Japan have appeared in seven consecutive World Cups since 1998. Their best finish was the Round of 16, achieved in 2002, 2018, and 2022. In 2022, they famously beat both Germany and Spain in the group stage.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and Japan's history in the competition provides important context for their 2026 campaign. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, every nation faces both new opportunities and new challenges in the revamped group stage format featuring groups of four with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout round. Japan will aim to write a new chapter in their World Cup story at this historic edition of the tournament.
Group F Opponents
Japan faces Netherlands and Sweden and Tunisia in Group F. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Group dynamics, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups will all play a role in determining which teams progress from this stage.