Japan display talent and ambition to scale new heights at World Cup

TOKYO – Japan have never gone beyond the last 16 at a World Cup, but they have set themselves the ambitious target of winning the 2026 tournament after dominating in Asian qualifying.

Hajime Moriyasu’s side became the first team to punch their ticket to the global football showpiece in the United States, Canada and Mexico when they beat Bahrain 2-0 in Saitama on March 20.

With their place sealed, the Samurai Blue followed that up with a 0-0 home draw with Saudi Arabia, giving them 20 points from eight games with 24 goals scored and two conceded in the third round of qualifiers.

Japan are 15th in the Fifa rankings, and Moriyasu and his players firmly believe that they can become the first Asian team to lift the World Cup next summer.

“We’re aiming to win it. That’s what we all keep saying. Our goal is to win the World Cup,” declared Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada, one of five English Premier League players in their ranks.

The Japanese have reached the last 16 four times since making their first World Cup appearance in 1998. They stunned Germany and Spain to reach the knockout stages at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, but lost on penalties to Croatia.

“That showed us that we had a chance, which was a big thing for me. The Japan Football Association has been saying that we want to win the World Cup by 2050, and we are taking on the challenge to improve so that we can make it happen,” said Moriyasu.

The coach knows that his team are not there yet, however ambitious they may be, and said they have to “improve in every department” before heading to North America.

He can call on numerous Europe-based players, with more than 10 appearing in this