Japan's road to World Cup 2026: full Group F schedule (Netherlands, Tunisia, Sweden), key players to watch, and the Samurai Blue's pursuit of a first quarterfinal.
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Japan arrive at World Cup 2026 with a familiar feeling and a bigger target. The Samurai Blue are back on the global stage for an eighth consecutive World Cup, and this time they enter as one of the tournament's most credible outside contenders: experienced, tactically flexible, technically clean, and deep enough to make life uncomfortable for more famous teams.
Group F is not gentle. Japan have been drawn with the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden, a group that offers almost no margin for a slow start. The Netherlands bring elite tournament pedigree, Sweden are awkward and physical, and Tunisia have enough defensive structure to turn one match into a long evening. For Japan, that makes the opening week of the tournament a serious test rather than a warm-up. For the wider context around the group, see the World Cup 2026 group draw analysis.
As of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking update on April 1, 2026, Japan are ranked 18th in the world. That feels about right for where the team sits: not in the tiny group of obvious favorites, but clearly strong enough to talk about the quarterfinals without sounding unrealistic.
The final World Cup squad is still subject to official selection, so player notes below should be read as a guide to the pool and likely roles, not a confirmed roster.
Japan's group schedule is friendly for supporters in Japan in one sense and brutal in another. There are no middle-of-the-night 2:00 kickoffs, but the opener lands at 5:00 JST, while the third match is early on a Friday morning.
| Match | Venue | Local kickoff | UTC | Japan time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands vs Japan | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | June 14, 2026, 15:00 CDT | June 14, 20:00 UTC | June 15, 05:00 JST |
| Tunisia vs Japan | Monterrey Stadium, Monterrey | June 20, 2026, 22:00 CST | June 21, 04:00 UTC | June 21, 13:00 JST |
| Japan vs Sweden | Dallas Stadium, Arlington | June 25, 2026, 18:00 CDT | June 25, 23:00 UTC | June 26, 08:00 JST |
The Netherlands match is the tone-setter. Japan do not need to dominate the ball for 90 minutes, but they do need to show that their pressing and transitions can survive against a side with top-level individual quality. A draw would be valuable; a win would change the entire shape of the group.
Tunisia is the kind of opponent that can punish impatience. Japan's technical midfield should have long spells of possession, but the key will be whether they can create high-quality chances before the game becomes stretched. This is also the match where three points may be most clearly expected by Japanese supporters, which brings its own pressure.
Sweden could be the decisive match. Depending on the first two results, it may be a qualification decider, a first-place battle, or a match where goal difference matters. Japan's ability to defend set pieces and second balls will be central here.
Japan qualified early and with authority. On March 20, 2025, they beat Bahrain 2-0 at Saitama Stadium, with Daichi Kamada and Takefusa Kubo scoring in the second half. That result made Japan the first non-host nation to qualify for World Cup 2026 and secured their eighth straight appearance at the finals.
The bigger story was not only the result, but the control Japan showed across qualification. Hajime Moriyasu's team had built such a strong position in the Asian final round that they booked their place with three matches still to play. For a nation that once treated qualification itself as the major hurdle, that is a meaningful shift.
Moriyasu remains the central figure in this cycle. He took Japan to the round of 16 in Qatar in 2022, where the team beat Germany and Spain in the group stage before losing to Croatia on penalties. Since then, Japan have moved from "dangerous underdog" toward something more demanding: a team expected to impose itself in Asia, compete with European and South American opponents, and turn good tournament moments into a deeper run.
That is the challenge in North America. Japan have already proved they can win headline matches. The next step is to manage a whole tournament: rotate without losing structure, handle different styles, and stay calm if a knockout match becomes tight after 70 minutes. If Japan get through Group F, the knockout bracket predictions help frame the possible route.
Japan's final squad will be confirmed closer to the tournament, and fitness will matter. As of May 2026, though, the core of the player pool is clear enough to sketch the team.
Takefusa Kubo is one of the obvious names for English-language audiences to know. The Real Sociedad attacker is sharp between the lines, comfortable receiving under pressure, and capable of deciding a match with one pass or one cut inside. He scored the second goal in the qualifying win over Bahrain that sent Japan to the World Cup, which only strengthened his place in the story of this cycle.
Kaoru Mitoma gives Japan a different kind of threat. At Brighton & Hove Albion, he has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous one-v-one wide players in the Premier League. When Japan need to move a compact block, Mitoma's ability to isolate a full-back and create from a standing start can be priceless.
Ayase Ueda, of Feyenoord, is one of the central-forward options who can give Japan penalty-box presence. He does not have to be the loudest player in the side to be important. Against teams that defend deep, Japan need forwards who attack the six-yard box, occupy centre-backs, and turn wide service into real chances.
Ritsu Doan and Daizen Maeda also deserve attention if selected. Doan has tournament pedigree after scoring important goals in 2022, while Maeda brings pressing intensity and straight-line running. In a squad built around collective movement, those qualities matter.
Daichi Kamada is one of Japan's more elegant connectors. Listed by JFA with Crystal Palace in the recent cycle, he can play as a No. 8, a No. 10, or a narrow attacking midfielder. His value is that he finds pockets without forcing the game. When Japan need someone to receive, turn, and release the next runner, Kamada is a natural fit.
Ao Tanaka, at Leeds United in recent JFA squad lists, gives Japan energy and timing from midfield. He is remembered by many fans for his goal against Spain in Qatar, but he is more than a highlight-reel name. His late runs and willingness to cover ground can help Japan change the tempo of a match.
Wataru Endo remains one of the most important reference points in the pool. The Liverpool midfielder has captained Japan and gives the team defensive reading, duels, and composure in front of the back line. Even when Japan use more technical midfielders around him, Endo's profile is valuable because tournament football often becomes a contest of second balls, counters, and game management.
Japan also have depth beyond those headline names. Hidemasa Morita, Kaishu Sano, Joel Chima Fujita, and other midfield options give Moriyasu different ways to build a three-man midfield or a hybrid shape. The exact mix will depend on opponent and fitness, but Japan's midfield is one of the reasons they are taken seriously.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is the biggest defensive name, although his availability and fitness must be watched carefully. JFA's March 2026 squad announcement listed him with AFC Ajax, but also noted a later non-participation due to injury for that window. If fit, he gives Japan calm defending, aerial strength, and the ability to play across the back line.
Maya Yoshida is more complicated. He was the long-time captain and one of the faces of Japan's modern World Cup history, but he has not been a regular part of the latest public squad lists. It is safer to treat him as a veteran reference point rather than an expected 2026 starter unless the final squad says otherwise.
The more current defensive pool includes names such as Hiroki Ito, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Shogo Taniguchi, Yukinari Sugawara, Ayumu Seko, and others who have appeared in recent JFA selections. Japan have options for a back four or a back three, and that flexibility has been a major part of the Moriyasu era.
In goal, Zion Suzuki is a major player to watch. Listed by JFA with Parma, he brings size, range, and modern distribution. Goalkeeper selection can be unforgiving in tournament football, but Suzuki has the profile to be a long-term No. 1 and could be a defining figure if Japan make a deep run.
Japan's World Cup story has moved in clear stages. Their first appearance came in 1998. The breakthrough came on home soil in 2002, when Japan reached the round of 16 for the first time. Since then, the country has become a consistent World Cup nation rather than an occasional qualifier.
The round of 16 has become the ceiling Japan are trying to break. They reached that stage in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022, but have never reached a World Cup quarterfinal. That fact will appear in almost every preview because it captures the emotional target of this generation.
In 2010, Japan went out to Paraguay on penalties. In 2018, they led Belgium 2-0 before one of the most dramatic comeback defeats in recent tournament memory. In 2022, they beat Germany and Spain, topped a difficult group, then lost to Croatia on penalties. Those exits were painful in different ways, but together they show a team that is no longer far away.
That is why 2026 feels important. Japan do not need a miracle just to imagine a quarterfinal. They need execution: a clean group stage, a manageable knockout draw, and a performance under pressure when the match becomes narrow.
The main practical issue for Japan supporters is time. The opener against the Netherlands is at 5:00 in the morning in Japan. The Tunisia match is a Sunday lunchtime kickoff. The Sweden match is at 8:00 on a Friday. That mix is easy to misread if you are switching between local venue time, UTC, and Japan time.
The simplest way to avoid mistakes is to follow Japan's schedule directly in your calendar. Once the knockout bracket starts, a live calendar is even more useful because opponents, dates, and venues depend on group position.
For viewers in Japan, DAZN is the central streaming option for World Cup 2026. DAZN will stream all 104 matches live, and Japan's matches are available with free account registration. That is especially important for casual viewers who only plan to watch the Samurai Blue during the group stage.
Broadcast coverage is also split across Japanese TV. NHK General is expected to show 33 to 34 matches, NHK BSP4K covers all 104 matches live or on delay, Nippon TV has 15 matches, and Fuji TV has 10. The exact practical choice depends on the match, device, and whether you want every game or only Japan.
One point is worth making clearly: ABEMA itself is not streaming World Cup 2026 the way many fans remember from the previous tournament. If you see ABEMA de DAZN, treat it as a DAZN viewing plan, not a separate ABEMA World Cup broadcast.
For a Japanese-language viewing guide with more detail on domestic options, see the full World Cup 2026 schedule and broadcast article when it is published in the Japan section.
Japan's World Cup 2026 campaign has the right ingredients for a compelling run: a demanding group, a proven coach, technical midfield quality, dangerous wide players, and the motivation of a national team still chasing its first quarterfinal.
The Netherlands opener will set the mood, but the group is unlikely to be decided in one match. Tunisia and Sweden both present very different problems, and Japan will need to show the full range of their game: possession, pressing, set-piece defending, transition control, and patience.
For neutral fans, Japan are one of the teams worth tracking from day one. For Samurai Blue supporters, this is another chance to turn respect into a result that changes the program's history.
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