Celtic pair named in Japan squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers

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The Celtic Star

·14 March 2025

Celtic pair named in Japan squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers

Celtic pair Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate have been called up to the Japan national team…

Reo Hatate of Celtic is challenged by Dylan Levitt of Hibernian during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

A familiar face for the Hoops duo will also be part of the squad. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has included Kyogo in the squad for Japan’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, thus keeping his promise, made via the pair’s shared agent, to the Rennes striker.

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Rennes vs PSG – Ligue 1 – 08/03/2025 Kyogo Furuhashi 7 – Rennes and Rennes players warm up prior to the Ligue 1 match between Stade Rennais FC and Paris Saint Germain at Roazhon Park on March 08, 2025 in Rennes, France. Photo by Dante Badano / PsnewZ

Japan can qualify for World Cup during this camp

Japan will host Bahrain on Thursday, 20 March, followed by a home match against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 25 March.

With 16 points from six matches, Japan comfortably lead their World Cup qualification group, which also features Australia, Indonesia, and China. A win against Bahrain will be enough to secure Japan’s place in the finals. Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate will be key in Japan’s push to secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico next summer.

Kyogo is training well, therefore he is called up by Moriyasu

Indeed, Kyogo departed the Scottish Premiership champions in January, choosing to embrace a new challenge in one of Europe’s top five leagues with French side Rennes, in order to secure a place at the World Cup. Training at Rennes seems to be more highly regarded by the Japan Manager than playing in the Champions League against Bayern Munich.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic battles for possession with Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

However, the striker’s move hasn’t gone as expected, with limited playing time in Brittany so far. Fortunately for the former Celtic forward, his lack of minutes hasn’t affected his Japan selection this time around, at least.

Moriyasu gives an unconvincing reason for Kyogo call-up

Moriyasu explained why he decided to call up Kyogo despite his move to Rennes not going to plan as of yet: “As for Kyogo, we have confirmed that he is training well, even though his opportunities to play have decreased since his transfer,” he said.

Daizen Maeda of Celtic scores against Bayern Munich in the Champions League match on February 12, 2025. Photo IMAGO.

“In terms of options for our preparations, Daizen Maeda and Keito Nakamura are both forwards on their own teams and have shown good performances, so I think we can fight to win with this member with various options.”

The Japan coach looks like tying himself in knots over this Kyogo situation, where he apparently told the player either directly or through their shared agent, that he’d have to get a move to a top five league to get into his squad for the World Cup. The move has happened but Kyogo isn’t getting a sniff at Rennes yet he still gets his call-up!

Reo Hatate of Celtic is challenged by Michael Olise of Bayern Munich during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at Allianz Arena on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Daizen Maeda meanwhile was frightening the Bayern Munich players in the Champions League, playing through the middle in Kyogo’s absence. Presumably both would have played in these games had it not been for the side deal that could end up embarrassing Moriyasu.

The 25-man Japanese squad can be seen below:

Japan squad includes Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate from Celtic and Kyogo Furuhashi from Rennes.

Goalkeepers: Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kōsei Tani (FC Machida Zelvia), Zion Suzuki (Parme Calcio 1913)

Defenders: Yūto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo,) Kōta Takai (Kawasaki Frontale), Ko Itakura (Mönchengladbach), Hiroki Itō (FC Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Grasshoppers) ,Yukinari Sugawara (Southampton), Hiroki Sekine (Stade de Reims)

Midfielders and Attackers: Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Kyogo Furuhashi (Stade Rennais) ,Junya Ito (Stade de Reims), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Takumi Minamino (AS Monaco), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Reo Hatate (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord). Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) and Joel Chima Fujita (Sint-Truidense)

Conor Spence

27 August 2000: Henrik Larsson celebrates during the Scottish Premier League match against Rangers at Celtic Park. Celtic won the game 6 – 2. Photo: Stu Forster /Allsport