Key Points
・Japan announced its 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Reo Hatate, Koki Machida, Kyogo Furuhashi and several other notable players left out.
・Mitoma’s absence affects Japan’s left-side attacking structure, while Minamino’s omission removes experience, versatility and an important front-line adjustment option.
・The omissions are a major blow, but they also show how deep and competitive Japan’s national team has become. Japan now enters a stage where the question is not only “who is the best player,” but “which combination can win matches.”
What Happened
The Japan Football Association announced Japan’s 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America on May 15, 2026. The squad includes Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo, Ritsu Doan, Daichi Kamada, Ayase Ueda, Keito Nakamura, Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Yuto Nagatomo.
Several major names were not included. Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Reo Hatate, Koki Machida, Kyogo Furuhashi, Shuto Machino and Kosei Tani were left out of the final squad.
Mitoma suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton’s Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers and was not selected after Japan’s medical staff judged that it would be difficult for him to regain fitness during the tournament.
Minamino had been recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee. Although he has been one of the most experienced attacking players under Hajime Moriyasu, he did not make the final World Cup squad.
Japan will play in Group F against the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden. According to the JFA schedule, Japan will face the Netherlands on June 14 in Dallas, Tunisia on June 20 in Monterrey and Sweden on June 25 in Dallas.
Background
Japan enter the 2026 World Cup in a different position from previous generations.
The Samurai Blue are now regular participants at the World Cup. The national conversation is no longer only about reaching the tournament. It is about whether Japan can finally go beyond the round of 16 and become a true knockout-stage contender.
At the 2022 World Cup, Japan beat both Germany and Spain in the group stage, showing that they could defeat elite opposition. Japan then lost to Croatia on penalties in the round of 16, falling short of the quarter-finals once again.
That history shapes the meaning of this squad announcement. The 26-man list is not simply a selection of available players. It is also a statement about how Moriyasu wants Japan to compete in a tournament where tactical flexibility, physical condition, leadership and squad balance may matter as much as individual reputation.
The 2026 World Cup has expanded to 48 teams, which changes the structure of the tournament. However, Japan’s group is not an easy one. The Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden all present different types of difficulty, and Japan cannot assume they will have time to wait for injured stars to recover.
Why Mitoma’s Absence Matters
Mitoma’s omission is one of the biggest blows to Japan.
He is not only a winger who can dribble past defenders. He is a player who changes how opponents defend. When Mitoma plays on the left, opposing right-backs cannot push forward freely. Centre-backs and holding midfielders also have to prepare to cover the space behind them.
That presence can create space for players such as Kubo, Kamada and Ueda in central areas. Even when Mitoma is not directly involved in the final action, his threat can stretch the opponent’s defensive shape.
Without him, Japan lose more than one attacking option. They lose a player who forces opponents to adjust their entire defensive plan.
That means Japan’s left side cannot simply be rebuilt by choosing a direct “Mitoma replacement.” Keito Nakamura, Daizen Maeda, Junya Ito, Takefusa Kubo, Daichi Kamada and Yuito Suzuki all offer different qualities.
Nakamura brings finishing ability and movement from wide areas. Maeda offers pressing, speed and direct runs behind the defence. Ito provides vertical acceleration. Kubo and Kamada can help Japan control the ball and create through combinations.
The challenge is not to reproduce Mitoma’s role exactly. The challenge is to build a different way of progressing the ball and creating chances.
Minamino’s Absence Reduces Japan’s Flexibility
Minamino’s omission is also significant, but in a different way.
He has been one of the most experienced attacking players of the Moriyasu era. He can play as an attacking midfielder, second striker, wide forward or in a more advanced front-line role. That versatility matters in a tournament.
World Cup matches rarely go exactly as planned. Injuries, suspensions, matchups and game situations force coaches to adjust. A player like Minamino gives a manager several ways to change the attack without completely reshaping the team.
He also brings experience in major tournaments and a sense of timing around the penalty area. In a tight knockout match, that kind of experience can be valuable.
At the same time, including a player recovering from an ACL injury in a 26-man World Cup squad is a major risk. The issue is not only whether Minamino could return to the pitch. It is whether he could handle the intensity, travel, recovery demands and repeated high-pressure matches of a World Cup.
His omission suggests that Japan prioritized players who could be counted on from the start of the tournament.
This Was Not a Simple Policy of Excluding Injured Players
Japan did not simply exclude every player with injury concerns.
Tomiyasu was selected after a long period affected by injuries. Endo also made the squad after an injury-hit season. Reuters reported that Moriyasu included Tomiyasu despite his long absence from the national team and selected Endo while praising his playing and leadership qualities.
Tomiyasu can cover multiple defensive positions at a high level. In a World Cup, where Japan may need to change their defensive structure depending on the opponent, that versatility is highly valuable.
Endo remains central to Japan’s midfield stability. His defensive strength, leadership and experience are difficult to replace.
That contrast is important. Mitoma and Minamino were left out, while Tomiyasu and Endo were selected. This was not just a medical decision. It appears to have been a broader assessment of recovery outlook, positional scarcity, tactical value, leadership and available alternatives.
The expanded 48-team format may create more room for debate. Some may argue that a player like Mitoma should have been included if there was any chance of a later return.
But Japan’s group is not easy. The Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden all present serious challenges. Japan cannot assume they will have time to wait for injured stars to recover. Reliable players from the beginning of the tournament may have been the safer choice.
Morita and Nagatomo Show the Role-Based Nature of the Squad
Morita’s omission is another major talking point.
For years, he has been one of Japan’s reliable midfield options. He has offered balance, composure and an ability to connect defensive and attacking phases. Alongside players such as Endo and Ao Tanaka, he helped give Japan structure in midfield.
Leaving Morita out may suggest a shift in what Moriyasu wants from the midfield at this tournament.
Japan may be prioritizing players who can cover more ground, press with greater intensity, connect quickly with the front line or fit specific match plans. In a group featuring the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden, midfield matchups will be crucial.
Morita’s omission does not necessarily mean he has declined as a player. It may reflect how narrow the margins have become inside the Japan squad. Players with European experience, international experience and clear tactical qualities can still miss out if their role does not fit the final balance of the team.
Nagatomo’s selection points to another side of squad-building. At 39, he is close to appearing at his fifth World Cup, and his inclusion will naturally divide opinion. The JFA list includes Nagatomo among the defenders, and Reuters noted that he is set for a fifth World Cup appearance.
Some will question whether that squad place should have gone to a younger player or a different positional option. From a purely physical standpoint, the debate is understandable.
However, World Cups are not played only on the pitch. A tournament also involves travel, pressure, media attention, unused players staying motivated, younger players handling nerves and the squad maintaining emotional stability. Experienced figures can matter in that environment.
Nagatomo has lived through multiple World Cups. He understands the pressure, rhythm and atmosphere of the tournament in a way few Japanese players can.
That does not remove the football questions around his selection. If Japan lack pace or depth in certain positions, the decision will be judged more harshly. But his inclusion should be viewed not only as a footballing decision, but also as a squad-building decision.
Japan’s Omitted Players Show the Team’s Growing Depth
The list of players left out is striking.
Mitoma, Minamino, Morita, Hatate, Machida, Furuhashi, Machino and Tani are not fringe names. Many have played in Europe, represented Japan or shown qualities that could have made them serious candidates for the World Cup squad.
That is why this squad announcement has two meanings.
On one hand, Japan have clearly lost important players. Mitoma’s one-on-one ability, Minamino’s versatility and Morita’s midfield balance are not easy to replace.
On the other hand, the strength of the omitted players shows how far Japan’s player pool has developed. In past eras, losing several names of this quality could have shaken the entire team. Today, Japan can still name a squad containing Kubo, Doan, Kamada, Ueda, Nakamura, Ito, Maeda, Endo and Tomiyasu.
That does not erase the risk. But it does show that Japan are no longer dependent on only one or two stars.
The competition for places has become more demanding. Reputation, past contribution and club status still matter, but they are no longer enough by themselves. Fitness, tactical role, tournament reliability and squad balance now appear to be decisive.
From Best XI to Winning Combinations
The biggest question for Japan may no longer be who belongs in the ideal starting eleven.
With Mitoma and Minamino absent, some will naturally say this is not Japan’s strongest possible squad. In terms of individual talent, that is a fair reaction. A fully fit Mitoma and Minamino would have given Japan more options.
But World Cups are not won by the same eleven players starting every match.
Injuries, suspensions, travel, climate, opponent style and match situation all change what a team needs. A lineup that works against the Netherlands may not be the best lineup against Tunisia or Sweden. A player who starts one game may be more useful from the bench in another.
Japan are now entering a stage where the question is not only “who is the best player?”
It is “which combination can win this match?”
That is the real test for Moriyasu’s team. Japan have depth. They have experience. They have players with different profiles. The challenge is to turn that depth into a clear match plan.
Conclusion
Mitoma and Minamino missing the 2026 World Cup squad is a major blow for Japan.
Mitoma’s ability to stretch opponents and force defensive adjustments, and Minamino’s experience and front-line flexibility, would have been valuable in a difficult Group F. Morita’s omission also raises important questions about how Japan intend to structure their midfield.
Yet the quality of the players left out also tells another story.
Japan’s squad depth has reached a point where even established names with European experience can miss out. That creates pain, but it also reflects progress. The competition for places is now far more demanding than it once was.
For Moriyasu, the task is no longer simply to assemble the most familiar names. It is to build a team that can win in different ways.
Japan’s World Cup challenge begins with the squad announcement, but it will be decided by what comes next: how the left side is rebuilt, how the midfield is balanced, how veterans and younger players share roles, and how the selected 26 turn Japan’s depth into results.
