Moriyasu drops Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka for Japan’s Brazil test

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·30 June 2026

Moriyasu drops Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka for Japan’s Brazil test

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has dropped Leeds United midfielder Ao Tanaka to the bench for tonight’s last 32 meeting with Brazil.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the call follows Tanaka playing the full duration of Japan’s previous two group matches after sitting out the opener.

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The Leeds midfielder was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw with Netherlands, then completed both the 4-0 win over Tunisia and the 1-1 draw with Sweden.

Those results secured second place in Group F and a last 32 tie with Brazil, which kicks off at 6pm tonight at Houston Stadium.

Tanaka was among four Leeds players selected for this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, alongside Brenden Aaronson for USA, Gabi Gudmundsson for Sweden and Noah Okafor for Switzerland.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk