Nakamura in, Minamino and Mitoma out as Japan name 26 for World Cup | OneFootball

Japan have named a 26-man squad for the World Cup from 11 June to 19 July, with injured Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma omitted, while Ayumu Seko and Keito Nakamura are selected. According to L'Équipe, head coach Hajime Moriyasu confirmed his travelling party.

Minamino, the Monaco forward, suffered a ruptured ACL in his left knee in December. Mitoma, Brighton’s winger, picked up a hamstring injury last weekend. Seko of Le Havre makes it, and Nakamura of Stade de Reims in L2 is called up after scoring four in Saturday’s 5-3 win over Pau.

Junya Ito, who spent 2022-2025 at Reims before returning to Genk last summer, is included. Wataru Endo, the Liverpool defender or midfielder, has not played since a serious ankle injury in February but is picked. Moriyasu said Endo has resumed ball work, is trending towards match fitness, and remains a key presence on and off the pitch.

This is Japan’s eighth finals appearance. Drawn in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden, Japan will aim to reach the quarter-finals for the first time after falling in the round of 16 four times, in 2002, 2010, 2018 and 2022.

Veteran Yuto Nagatomo, 39, the former Marseille defender, will take part in his fifth World Cup. Takehiro Tomiyasu, now at Ajax Amsterdam and absent from the national side for nearly two years due to injuries, has also been selected.

Source: L'Équipe