Teams · Group F

Japan

Samurai Blue

Japan have become one of Asia's elite, stunning Germany and Spain to top their group in 2022. A technical, well-coached side packed with players at major European clubs, they are pushing for a first quarterfinal.

Key facts

Confederation

Asia (AFC)

Group

Group F · power-ranked #2 of 4

World Cup titles

0

Best finish

Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022)

Qualified via

AFC qualifying

Power rating (PWR)

80 · Elo 1840

Manager

Hajime Moriyasu

Players to watch

• Takefusa Kubo — Forward (Real Sociedad)
• Wataru Endo — Captain, midfield (Liverpool)
• Hiroki Ito — Defender (Bayern Munich)

Group F opponents

• Netherlands88
• Sweden75
• Tunisia71

Group-stage fixtures

• Sun, Jun 14NetherlandsDallas, USA
• Sun, Jun 21TunisiaMonterrey, Mexico
• Thu, Jun 25SwedenDallas, USA

2026 outlook

With genuine ambition to break their round-of-16 ceiling, Japan are dark horses capable of upsetting anyone in Group F.

Simulate Japan’s World Cup

Think Japan can go all the way — or crash out early? Set their Group F finish in the simulator and watch the bracket re-wire around your call, or build a full prediction all the way to the final.