Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: May 21, 2026
Japan heads into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a fast, disciplined squad and a growing reputation as one of Asia’s strongest football nations. Here you can check Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 squad, all players list, schedule, results, records, stats, head-to-head history, top scorers, and tournament performance
Japan heads into the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a fast, disciplined squad and a growing reputation as one of Asia’s strongest football nations. Known for technical football, energetic play, and memorable World Cup performances, Japan continues to be one of the most exciting teams to watch on the international stage.
Japan FIFA World Cup Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Football Association | Japan Football Association (JFA) |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Nickname | Samurai Blue |
| FIFA Ranking | Top 20 |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1998 |
| Total FIFA World Cup Appearances | 7 |
| Consecutive Appearances | 7 (1998-2022) |
| Best FIFA World Cup Finish | Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) |
| Total Matches Played | 25 |
| Total Wins | 8 |
| Total Draws | 5 |
| Total Losses | 12 |
| Goals Scored | 27 |
| Goals Conceded | 29 |
| Win Percentage | 32% |
| Clean Sheets | 7 |
| Penalty Shootout Record | Won 1, Lost 2 |
| Most World Cup Matches by Player | Yuto Nagatomo - 15 |
| Most Goals by Player | Keisuke Honda - 4 |
| Largest Victory | 3-1 vs Denmark (2010) |
| Biggest Defeat | 1-4 vs Brazil (2006) |
| Latest FIFA World Cup Appearance | 2022 |
Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Goalkeepers
| No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zion Suzuki | Parma |
| 12 | Keisuke Osako | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 23 | Daniel Schmidt | Sint-Truiden |
Defenders
| No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Takehiro Tomiyasu | Arsenal |
| 3 | Kō Itakura | Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| 4 | Hiroki Itō | Bayern Munich |
| 5 | Yukinari Sugawara | AZ Alkmaar |
| 13 | Shogo Taniguchi | Al Rayyan |
| 15 | Ayumu Seko | Grasshopper Club Zürich |
| 18 | Daiki Hashioka | Luton Town |
| 21 | Yuto Nagatomo | FC Tokyo |
Midfielders
| No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Wataru Endō | Liverpool |
| 7 | Takefusa Kubo | Real Sociedad |
| 8 | Hidemasa Morita | Sporting CP |
| 10 | Daichi Kamada | Crystal Palace |
| 14 | Kaoru Mitoma | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 16 | Ao Tanaka | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
| 20 | Ritsu Dōan | SC Freiburg |
Forwards
| No. | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Kyogo Furuhashi | Celtic |
| 11 | Takuma Asano | Mallorca |
| 17 | Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord |
| 19 | Junya Ito | Reims |
| 22 | Mao Hosoya | Kashiwa Reysol |
| 24 | Daizen Maeda | Celtic |
| 25 | Reo Hatate | Celtic |
Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Time (Local) | Team 1 | Team 2 | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sun, June 14 | 15:00 | Netherlands | Japan | Dallas Stadium (AT&T) |
| 36 | Sat, June 20 | 22:00 | Tunisia | Japan | Estadio Monterrey (BBVA) |
| 57 | Thu, June 25 | 15:00 | Japan | Sweden | Dallas Stadium (AT&T) |
Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | Japan vs Netherlands | Upcoming Fixture | TBD | Dallas Stadium (AT&T) | Group Stage |
Japan All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 25 |
| Wins | 8 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Goals Scored | 27 |
| Goals Conceded | 29 |
| Clean Sheets | 7 |
| Best Finish | Round of 16 |
Japan Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuto Nagatomo | 15 | 4 | 2010-2022 |
| 2 | Makoto Hasebe | 15 | 4 | 2006-2018 |
| 3 | Keisuke Honda | 11 | 3 | 2010-2018 |
| 4 | Shinji Okazaki | 10 | 3 | 2010-2018 |
| 5 | Shinji Kagawa | 10 | 2 | 2014-2018 |
| 6 | Maya Yoshida | 11 | 3 | 2014-2022 |
| 7 | Wataru Endō | 7 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
| 8 | Takumi Minamino | 4 | 1 | 2022 |
| 9 | Takefusa Kubo | 4 | 1 | 2022 |
| 10 | Daichi Kamada | 4 | 1 | 2022 |
Japan Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keisuke Honda | 4 | 11 | 2010-2018 |
| 2 | Shinji Okazaki | 2 | 10 | 2010-2018 |
| 3 | Takuma Asano | 2 | 4 | 2022 |
| 4 | Junichi Inamoto | 2 | 7 | 2002-2010 |
| 5 | Ritsu Dōan | 2 | 4 | 2022 |
| 6 | Takashi Inui | 2 | 4 | 2018 |
| 7 | Yuya Osako | 2 | 7 | 2014-2022 |
| 8 | Kaoru Mitoma | 1 | 4 | 2022 |
| 9 | Shinji Kagawa | 1 | 10 | 2014-2018 |
| 10 | Hidetoshi Nakata | 1 | 7 | 1998-2006 |
FAQs About Japan FIFA World Cup Records
Japan reached the Round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup four times.
Keisuke Honda is Japan’s leading FIFA World Cup goalscorer with four goals.
Japan has appeared in seven FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Yuto Nagatomo and Makoto Hasebe hold the record for the most FIFA World Cup appearances for Japan.
Japan made its FIFA World Cup debut in 1998.
References
- FIFA Official Website
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Page
- FIFA Men’s World Ranking
- Japan Football Association