Japan World Cup 2026 Squad
FIFA JPN · Group F · Head coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Japan shocked Spain and Germany in 2022's group stage and lost to Croatia on penalties. the Samurai Blue want a first quarter-final. FIFA confirmed the squad on 2026-06-03. Japan travel with 26 players in Group F, and the table below mirrors the official PDF with every shirt number and club.
Group F with Netherlands, Tunisia and UEFA playoff. Japan can win the group on talent. Hajime Moriyasu leads the side with a clear tactical identity: Fluid 4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1, collective pressing, quick one-touch passing and tactical discipline from Bundesliga-heavy roster.
Routine AFC dominance. Japan's B team often wins Asian qualifiers. 2022. Round of 16; same in 2018, 2010, 2002. FIFA's published shirt names include ENDO, H. ITO, GOTO and AYASE among the 26 call-ups. 6 players were listed with German clubs at submission. Goalkeeper No. 1 SUZUKI (Parma (ITA)) anchors the defensive unit on the sheet. Oranje's size vs Japan's speed. classic tactical contrast. Quarter-finals is the target; semi-finals requires draw luck.
Official squad list (26 players)
| # | POS | Name on shirt | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | SUZUKI | Parma (ITA) |
| 2 | DF | SUGAWARA | SV Werder Bremen (GER) |
| 3 | DF | TANIGUCHI | Sint-Truiden VV (BEL) |
| 4 | DF | ITAKURA | AFC Ajax (NED) |
| 5 | DF | NAGATOMO | FC Tokyo (JPN) |
| 6 | MF | ENDO | Liverpool FC (ENG) |
| 7 | MF | TANAKA | Leeds United FC (ENG) |
| 8 | MF | KUBO | Real Sociedad (ESP) |
| 9 | FW | GOTO | Sint-Truiden VV (BEL) |
| 10 | MF | DOAN | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) |
| 11 | MF | DAIZEN | Celtic FC (SCO) |
| 12 | GK | OSAKO | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) |
| 13 | MF | NAKAMURA | Stade Reims (FRA) |
| 14 | MF | ITO | KRC Genk (BEL) |
| 15 | MF | KAMADA | Crystal Palace FC (ENG) |
| 16 | DF | WATANABE | Feyenoord Rotterdam (NED) |
| 17 | MF | Y. SUZUKI | SC Freiburg (GER) |
| 18 | FW | AYASE | Feyenoord Rotterdam (NED) |
| 19 | FW | OGAWA | NEC Nijmegen (NED) |
| 20 | DF | SEKO | Le Havre AC (FRA) |
| 21 | DF | H. ITO | FC Bayern München (GER) |
| 22 | DF | TOMIYASU | AFC Ajax (NED) |
| 23 | GK | HAYAKAWA | Kashima Antlers (JPN) |
| 24 | MF | SANO | 1. FSV Mainz 05 (GER) |
| 25 | DF | J. SUZUKI | FC København (DEN) |
| 26 | FW | SHIOGAI | VfL Wolfsburg (GER) |
Source: FIFA squad list published 2026-06-03. GK — Goalkeeper; DF — Defender; MF — Midfielder; FW — Forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Samurai Blue players did FIFA publish for 2026?
Japan (JPN) named 26 players on 2026-06-03 after giant-killing wins in 2022. Group F features Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia, and Bundesliga or J-League clubs appear beside each shirt name in the list.
Who is Japan's head coach at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Hajime Moriyasu (Japan) is the head coach on FIFA's published roster. Fluid 4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1, collective pressing, quick one-touch passing and tactical discipline from Bundesliga-heavy roster.
What is a realistic target for Japan at World Cup 2026?
Quarter-finals is the target; semi-finals requires draw luck. This is based on the official squad and group draw, not a guarantee of results.
Where is the full Japan World Cup 2026 roster table?
Every shirt number, NAME ON SHIRT, club, height and date of birth for all 26 call-ups is on the official Japan squad page linked in this article. The blog focuses on analysis; the roster page has the sortable FIFA table.
What does NAME ON SHIRT mean on Japan's FIFA list?
NAME ON SHIRT is the exact text FIFA registers for the back of the jersey. It can differ from passport names (abbreviations, accents, or nicknames). Use the official squad page to match each player's number to their shirt name.