Japan Squad World Cup 2022 Qatar

Japan will hope to be seventh-time lucky in Qatar, as they begin their latest bid to make a deep run into the World Cup’s knockout stages.

Having qualified for the last six consecutive finals before 2022, Samurai Blue’s appearance on football’s biggest stage has followed a familiar pattern, as they have yo-yoed between group stage exits and defeat in the round of 16.

In Russia in 2018, they lost to Belgium in the last 16 semi-finals.

After four years, they know they will have their work cut out for them to make it this far, with Spain, Costa Rica, and Germany their opponents in what is this time tagged as the traditional ‘group of death.

Still, manager Hajime Moriyasu has a determined squad and was the first coach from any of the competing nations to announce his final 26-man squad for the tournament.

Here we look at who will take on the challenge of Samurai Blue in Qatar.

More: Complete FIFA World Cup schedule 2022

The final 26-man Japan squad for the World Cup

Moriasu had until Friday, October 21, to submit an official preliminary list of up to 55 players to FIFA, from which he selected his final 26-man roster for Qatar, whose deadline was November 14.

The Blue Samurai coach chose to go early, and did not make his initial squad public, but instead cut his final 26 names directly, which was announced in a press conference on November 1.

That list was temporarily reduced to 25 players with Yuta Nakayama out with injury before Shuto Machino was named in his place.

The most notable absences during that time were Celtic duo Kyogo Furuhashi and Ryo Hate, although club team-mate Daizen Maeda has made the cut.

Vissel Kobe forward Yuya Osako and Union Berlin midfielder Genki Haraguchi were also left out, but Nagoya Grampus winger Yuki Soma has made a surprise call-up.

Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo add star quality to the squad and will be tasked with providing the creativity to unlock Group E’s tough opponents in Qatar.

Experience comes in the form of captain Maya Yoshida and Hiroki Sakai, who will be making their third consecutive World Cup appearances, while 39-year-old goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima makes his fourth trip to the finals.

Japan begin its challenge in Qatar by facing Germany on November 23, before taking on Costa Rica four days later. They will finish their group challenge against Spain on December 1.

Here are the players shortlisted:

More: Complete FIFA World Cup schedule 2022