Japan have suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out of Hajime Moriyasu’s final squad through injury.
The dynamic forward sustained a hamstring problem during Brighton’s recent Premier League victory over Wolves, and after further medical checks, Japan’s coaching staff decided he would not recover in time for the tournament.
“The medical team assessed that it would be difficult for him to get back to fitness during the tournament,” Hajime Moriyasu said while unveiling his squad in Tokyo.
Mitoma’s absence is a significant blow for the Samurai Blue, especially after the 28-year-old enjoyed another influential season for club and country.
The Brighton winger scored nine goals this campaign and remained one of Japan’s biggest attacking threats heading into the tournament.
Moreover, the former Kawasaki Frontale star had already shown his importance on the international stage after netting the winner against England in a high-profile friendly at Wembley back in March.
Japan will also be without Monaco attacker Takumi Minamino, who misses the tournament after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury late last year.
Consequently, Moriyasu will now rely on other experienced names to guide the squad through a challenging group-stage campaign.
Meanwhile, there was a major boost for Japan as former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu earned a surprise recall despite battling injuries over the last two years.
The Ajax centre-back has not featured for Japan since June 2024, but he has done enough to convince Moriyasu ahead of the finals.
Elsewhere, Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Real Sociedad playmaker Takefusa Kubo, Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo were all included in the 26-man squad.
Young Wolfsburg striker Kento Shiogai also secured his place after impressing during recent international fixtures.
Japan have been drawn into Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia.
Their campaign kicks off against the Dutch in Arlington, Texas on June 14 before further clashes against Tunisia and Sweden.
In addition, Moriyasu’s side will face Iceland in a final warm-up friendly on May 31 before travelling to their training base in Nashville, Tennessee.
With Mitoma sidelined and Minamino absent, Japan’s World Cup hopes now rest heavily on the shoulders of their remaining stars as they chase a historic run beyond the last 16.
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