Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu admitted his side have lost “a major presence” after Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was ruled out of the FIFA World Cup because of injury.
Mitoma failed to make Japan’s final 26-man squad after medical staff determined there was not enough time for the 28-year-old to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves last weekend.
The winger has become one of Japan’s standout players in recent years and famously scored the winner in a 1-0 friendly victory over England at Wembley in March.
Japan will face the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia in Group F, beginning their World Cup campaign against the Dutch in Arlington, Texas, on June 14.
Speaking in Tokyo on Friday, an emotional Moriyasu fought back tears while discussing the players omitted from his squad but insisted Japan still have the quality to compete at the highest level.
“Everyone who watches Japan knows Mitoma is a major presence in this team,” Moriyasu said.
“However, last year we defeated Brazil in a friendly for the first time without Mitoma available. That reflects our team concept — anyone can step in and the team can still perform.”
Mitoma played a crucial role in Japan’s memorable victories over Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before their tournament ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Croatia in the last 16.
“This will hurt him more than anyone else,” Moriyasu added.
“I hope he recovers quickly and can return to playing freely again.”
Japan were also forced to leave out Monaco forward Takumi Minamino, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in December.
Despite ongoing injury struggles, Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu earned a place in the squad despite not featuring for Japan since June 2024.
Liverpool captain Wataru Endo, Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada and Real Sociedad star Takefusa Kubo were all included in the final selection.
Wolfsburg striker Kento Shiogai, who made his international debut in March during Japan’s 1-0 win over Scotland in Glasgow, also secured a spot.
Veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo was named in Japan’s squad for a fifth World Cup at the age of 39.
Moriyasu has repeatedly stated that Japan are targeting World Cup glory and insisted Mitoma’s absence will not alter their ambitions.
“The World Cup is a special stage, but that doesn’t mean we will change our approach,” he said.
“I believe the World Cup is simply an extension of the process we have followed until now, and I always tell the players the process matters most.”
Zion Suzuki (Parma), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)
Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Keito Nakamura (Reims), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)
