*This content was translated by AI.
The final roster for the Japan national football team set to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America is about to be announced. Major changes to the roster are expected due to injuries to key players.
Japanese football specialist "Soccer Digest" reported on the 12th on a prediction of the 26th players that coach Hajime Moriyasu will select for the final World Cup roster. Coach Moriyasu will announce the final 26-player roster on the 15th.
Long-term injured players, including team captain Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), and Kokichi Machida (Hoffenheim), are likely to be excluded from the roster. The media stated, "Even if they return within this season, considering their match fitness, selecting them would be like gambling."
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), who injured his hamstring on the 9th, is also uncertain to be included. Coach Moriyasu has also expressed strong concern over Mitoma's injury status. The media predicted that even if Mitoma makes the roster, he will likely be limited to a "super sub" role with restricted playing time.
If Mitoma is ultimately left out, Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg), Koudai Sano (NEC Nijmegen), Ryunosuke Sato (FC Tokyo), and Shuto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach) are mentioned as replacement candidates.
For the defensive midfield position, the inclusion of Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), and Ao Tanaka (Leeds) is confirmed. For the remaining spot, it is expected that Hidemasa Morita (Sporting), who has not been called up to the national team for a year, will push out Joel Chima Fujita (St. Pauli), who was called up for the March A-match.
As second strikers, the media predicted the surprising selection of 21-year-old prodigy Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg) alongside Junya Ito (Genk) and Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad). The media stated, "Although Shiogai has limited playing time at his club, he has the ability to change the flow of the game in short periods and will be utilized as a key joker."
For the left and right full-backs and wing-backs, the media listed Ritsu Doan (Frankfurt), Yukinari Sugawara (Bremen), Keito Nakamura (Stade Reims), and Daizen Maeda (Celtic FC). Additionally, veteran Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), who will likely secure his fifth World Cup appearance, is expected to fill the mental leadership void left by captain Endo.
Up front, the team is expected to be led by ace Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), with high-scoring players Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen) and Kaiseke Goto (Sint-Truiden) rounding out the attack.
The defensive line is expected to include Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), and Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich). Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen), Ko Itakura, and Takehiro Tomiyasu (both Ajax), along with Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), are also expected to join. In particular, Tomiyasu, whose recovery is crucial, is likely to be used as a defensive anchor in the latter stages of matches.
For the goalkeeper position, Zayon Suzuki (Parma), Kaiseke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), and Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers) are predicted to comfortably secure the spots.
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*This content was translated by AI.
