Coach Hajime Moriyasu emphasized that Japan’s recent 1-0 triumph over England at Wembley was just a friendly match, yet the historic victory underscores their potential to make a significant impact at the World Cup. Japan secured their spot in the North American finals early by cruising through Asian qualifiers and previously stunned Brazil with a 3-2 win in a home friendly last October.
Facing England, one of the tournament favorites alongside Brazil, Japan demonstrated their quality with a well-deserved win. Kaoru Mitoma’s calm and precise finish in the first half marked England’s first-ever defeat to an Asian team. Moriyasu has expressed ambitions for Japan to win the 2026 World Cup, and this performance lends credibility to that aspiration.
However, Moriyasu tempered expectations by noting that England’s squad was missing key players Harry Kane, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka under Thomas Tuchel’s management. “We know England will field a different team at the World Cup,” Moriyasu said, adding that this match should be viewed as a friendly.
Ranked 18th globally and the highest among Asian teams, Japan faces a challenging group this summer with the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Despite the tough competition, they appear well-equipped to advance beyond the last 16 stage for the first time in their history.
Japan’s confidence has surged since Qatar 2022, where they defeated Spain and Germany in the group stage before narrowly losing to Croatia on penalties in the knockout round. Their squad boasts technically skilled players competing in Europe’s top leagues, including Premier League standout winger Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton, Crystal Palace’s Daichi Kamada, and Leeds’ Ao Tanaka.
Although Takefusa Kubo missed recent friendlies due to injury, the 24-year-old Real Sociedad forward is an established La Liga talent with 29 goals and 21 assists in 213 appearances since 2019. In goal, Moriyasu continues to trust 23-year-old Zion Suzuki, a New Jersey-born goalkeeper with Ghanaian heritage, who has impressed with Parma in Italy’s Serie A and attracted Premier League interest.
Following the victory over England, Moriyasu reiterated his team’s World Cup ambitions, confident in their ability to compete against any opponent. Having led the team since 2018, he has the squad well-prepared and focused on their goal. “I’m confident that we can win no matter who we face,” he stated.
