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FIFA World Cup
With the exception of the three hosts – Canada, Mexico and the USA – Japan were the first team to punch their ticket to the Finals, winning their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 group at a canter.
Factfile
FIFA Ranking: 18
Previous appearances: 7
First appearance: 1998
Best finish: R16 (4 times)
2022 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group C winners
Group G fixtures - June 14: v Netherlands; June 20: v Tunisia; June 25: v Sweden
Fun fact: Japan have not missed a single edition of the Finals since making their debut at France '98.
FIFA Ranking: 18
Previous appearances: 7
First appearance: 1998
Best finish: R16 (4 times)
2022 record: R16
How they qualified: AFC Asian Qualifiers™ - Road to 26 Group C winners
Group G fixtures - June 14: v Netherlands; June 20: v Tunisia; June 25: v Sweden
Fun fact: Japan have not missed a single edition of the Finals since making their debut at France '98.
The smooth qualifying campaign aside, Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu believes his team can win the FIFA World Cup after historic friendly wins over Brazil and England.
Their run to the Round of 16 four years ago was achieved with victories against Spain and Germany - proof that Japan can hold their own against the world's best.
Such is Moriyasu's confidence that Japan - who have never progressed past the Round of 16 - can go all the way that the tactician is not worried about having to do without winger Kaoru Mitoma.
Their run to the Round of 16 four years ago was achieved with victories against Spain and Germany - proof that Japan can hold their own against the world's best.
Such is Moriyasu's confidence that Japan - who have never progressed past the Round of 16 - can go all the way that the tactician is not worried about having to do without winger Kaoru Mitoma.
"Last year we played Brazil in a friendly and we beat them for the first time, and Mitoma wasn't available to play in that game," Moriyasu said.
"That reflects the team concept, that anyone can come into the line-up and the team still performs."
"That reflects the team concept, that anyone can come into the line-up and the team still performs."
Monaco's Takumi Minamino will also miss the tournament after tearing knee ligaments in December.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Ajax's Takehiro Tomiyasu both recovered in time after long injury absences.
Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda is a reliable source of goals, while Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo (pictured above) are key men.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Ajax's Takehiro Tomiyasu both recovered in time after long injury absences.
Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda is a reliable source of goals, while Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad's Takefusa Kubo (pictured above) are key men.
Japan came back from two goals down at half-time to beat Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Tokyo last October.
It was Japan's first win over the five-time world champions. They then became the first Asian team to beat England when they claimed a 1-0 victory at Wembley in March.
It was Japan's first win over the five-time world champions. They then became the first Asian team to beat England when they claimed a 1-0 victory at Wembley in March.
The experience Moriyasu has at his disposal adds to Japan's confidence, with half of the players in the squad were also at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where Japan stunned Germany and Spain, beating both 2-1, before losing on penalties to Croatia in the last 16.
"We have more players with World Cup experience and that will help us in terms of the team's composure," said Moriyasu, who has been at the helm since 2018 and is Japan's longest serving coach.
Sources: FIFA, AFC, AFP
"We have more players with World Cup experience and that will help us in terms of the team's composure," said Moriyasu, who has been at the helm since 2018 and is Japan's longest serving coach.
Sources: FIFA, AFC, AFP
