Shock Omission: Injured Kaoru Mitoma Left Out of Japan’s 26-Man FIFA World Cup 2026™ Squad

TOKYO — In a major tactical development that has sent shockwaves through Asian football, Japan men's national team head coach Hajime Moriyasu has officially unveiled his 26-man squad for next month's expanded FIFA World Cup 2026™ in North America. The announcement was dominated by the absence of Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, who stands as the squad's most significant and heartbreaking omission.

The Mitoma Blow and Attacking Woes

The 28-year-old Mitoma, widely considered one of the most lethal and influential attacking threats in the Samurai Blue lineup, was left off the roster following a severe left hamstring injury sustained during Brighton's 3-0 English Premier League victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 9. Following detailed clinical scans and extensive consultation with European medical specialists, it was determined that the dynamic winger could not reach full match-fitness before the tournament kicks off.

This loss is compounded by the pre-existing vacancy in Japan's attacking unit. The Samurai Blue were already forced to plan without AS Monaco forward Takumi Minamino, who was ruled out of contention earlier this year following a devastating ACL injury sustained in December 2025. Losing two of their most creative catalysts puts immense pressure on the remaining forwards to replicate the tactical fluidity Japan has become famous for under Moriyasu.

The Roster Gamble: Moriyasu Rolls the Dice on Returnees

While Mitoma's injury proved too severe to risk, Moriyasu has chosen to gamble heavily on a trio of core defensive and midfield pillars who are either currently nursing minor knocks or have only just returned to active club football.

Liverpool defensive midfielder Wataru Endo, Borussia Mönchengladbach's Ko Itakura, and former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu—who now plays his club football at Ajax—have all been included in the provisional setup. Tomiyasu’s inclusion, in particular, marks a major international recall; the versatile defender has not featured for the Samurai Blue since June 2024. His ability to anchor the backline will be vital if Japan is to maintain the defensive solidity required to survive the group stages.

The squad leans heavily on veteran experience, anchored by legendary defender Yuto Nagatomo. His inclusion is historic, as he has been called up to represent Japan in what will be his fifth consecutive FIFA World Cup finals appearance, a testament to his longevity and enduring value to the national team structure.

"I was able to select only 26 players, and I feel deeply sorry that I couldn't include many other deserving athletes," Coach Moriyasu stated during an emotional press conference. "However, I selected these 26 based on their past performances and deep structural conversations with the coaching staff, believing that this is our best possible squad right now. I believe I have chosen the best group in order for Japan to win on the global stage at this moment."

The Giant-Killers Chase Global Glory

Japan enters the 2026 tournament in confident form, aiming to become the first nation outside of Europe and South America to lift the historic World Cup trophy. After stunning the world by defeating football powerhouses Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022, the Samurai Blue have maintained a spectacular twelve-month run—drawing with co-hosts Mexico on neutral soil while securing high-profile international victories against Brazil at home and England on the road.

Drawn into a highly competitive Group F, Japan faces a logistically intense opening schedule scattered across premium North American venues:

• June 14: Netherlands vs. Japan — Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)

• June 20: Tunisia vs. Japan — Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA), Mexico

• June 25: Japan vs. Sweden — Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)

Under strict FIFA regulations, all announced squads remain entirely provisional until the final, verified list of 26 players is officially submitted to the football governing body on June 2, 2026. This period allows Moriyasu a final window to monitor the fitness of his returning stars before the commitment is formalized.

Official Japan FIFA World Cup 2026™ Squad List