The Japanese national team has high ambitions ahead of the 2026 World Cup - Photo: AFP
When it comes to Asian football at the World Cup, European football circles often picture teams focused on defense, seeking opportunities to advance from the group stage, or occasionally creating minor upsets. But with the current Japanese national team, that idea is outdated.
Historical ambition
Ahead of their crucial match against England on April 1st, coach Hajime Moriyasu's team had an excellent warm-up by defeating hosts Scotland. Despite playing under immense pressure, the Asian representatives confidently controlled the midfield and scored the only goal through Junya Ito.
Don't forget that Japan was the first team in the world (excluding the three host nations) to officially qualify for the 2026 World Cup with a dominant run in the Asian qualifying rounds. This dominance has created an unprecedented ambition in the history of Japanese football. The new President of the Japan Football Association (JFA), Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, has not hesitated to set the goal of reaching the final.
Meanwhile, captain Wataru Endo, who plays for Liverpool, declared: "The team's goal is to win the World Cup." Even a coach known for his caution like Hajime Moriyasu admitted to his players: "Although Japan is not yet considered the top contender by experts, their chances of reaching the final are entirely plausible."
The golden generation carries "European DNA".
The Japanese national team isn't just paying lip service. Veteran Yuto Nagatomo (38 years old), who is aiming for his fifth World Cup, affirmed that the 2026 "Samurai Blue" is a completely different team: "We have significantly improved our level in terms of tactics, physical fitness, and mentality. This team has truly matured."
The biggest reason Japan dares to dream big is the depth of its squad. Coach Moriyasu once emphasized that to reach the end of a grueling eight-match tournament like the 2026 World Cup, a national team needs at least two squads of comparable skill levels.
The current Japanese national team fully meets that requirement. The majority of their called-up players are currently competing in Europe. From the fiercely competitive Premier League with Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Takehiro Tomiyasu (formerly of Arsenal) to La Liga with Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad); or the Bundesliga (Germany) and Serie A (Italy) with Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich) and Zion Suzuki (Parma).
More importantly, they are no longer going abroad to "learn the ropes." Players like Endo, Mitoma, and Kubo are key players who decide matches at top European clubs. Every week, they get to breathe the atmosphere of top-level competition, compete against the best stars, and bring that very "European DNA" back to contribute to their national teams.
However, that strength didn't come naturally; it stems from an extremely well-structured foundation in school sports . More than half of the players competing in the J-League are university graduates. Star player Kaoru Mitoma is the clearest example, having rejected a professional contract at age 18 to attend Tsukuba University and subsequently successfully defending his thesis on "dribbling skills" before rising to world-class status.
The perfect combination of an education that emphasizes both intellect and physical fitness has forged Japanese athletes who are disciplined, intelligent, possess sharp tactical thinking, and never give up. The 2026 World Cup in North America is counting down the days, and there will still be skeptical eyes wondering if an Asian representative can lift the gold trophy.
However, with a formidable team of European stature and a burning desire to succeed, the "Blue Samurai" are ready to create an earthquake.
The journey of the "Blue Samurai"
Since their debut in 1998, the Japanese national team has never missed a World Cup. The 2026 World Cup in North America marks their eighth consecutive appearance on the planet's biggest stage.
In the past, their best performances were reaching the round of 16 in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022. However, with their current "golden generation" of experienced players competing in Europe, Japanese football is determined to break the "round of 16 curse".
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/samurai-xanh-ung-vien-vo-dich-world-cup-20260329230916588.htm
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