Japan shooting for Fifa World Cup final spot, says JFA head Tsuneyasu Miyamoto

TOKYO – Japan have never advanced past the round of 16 at a World Cup, but top football official Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said they are confident and aiming for the 2026 final in North America.

Japan Football Association president Miyamoto says the four-time Asian champions have the experience and depth of talent in the squad to make a major impact at the first 48-team World Cup.

The Samurai Blue in March became the first team to qualify for the tournament and will bring a squad packed with players plying their trade at some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Wataru Endo at Liverpool and Ritsu Doan at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Recording their first-ever win over Brazil in a friendly in October has only fuelled their ambition further.

“The players are all playing football in Europe, in the Champions League, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, and they know how they should play against big teams and great players,” said Miyamoto.

“This kind of confidence will show something new to the world, we hope.

“What we can do is prepare for the World Cup, for the team to reach where we want to.”

Japan have featured in every World Cup since their 1998 debut but never reached the quarter-finals, while no Asian nation has made the final – South Korea came closest with a semi-final run on home soil in 2002.

Their last-16 elimination in Qatar three years ago came in a penalty shoot-out against Croatia at a tournament where they had defeated both Germany and Spain in the group phase.

“We need to get through the round of 16... they've got the confidence to advance further, maybe until the final,” Miyamoto added.

“Twenty years ago we couldn't say that. Ten years ago Keisuke (Honda), Yuto (Nagatomo) said the aim was to be champions. Maybe 10 years ago it sounded surprising.”

Coach Hajime Moriyasu thinks Japan are not quite ready to win a World Cup but believes a place in the final is not out the question, said Miyamoto.

“Our coach, during our meetings, he says all the time that we are not a real candidate to win the World Cup, but he says at the same time, we might have a chance to get to the final.”

Moriyasu will lead Japan at a World Cup for the second time and is expected to retain at least 10 players from 2022, with Miyamoto believing the team will benefit from lessons learned in Qatar.

“Those kind of experiences are very important to get to a new level,” he said.

“Some players who are still playing for the national team have had certain experiences that they can share with the new players during the World Cup.” REUTERS