Japan
Qualified directly
Japan's 2026 World Cup Campaign So Far
Japan has made a steady if unspectacular start in the World Cup 2026 group stage, currently sitting second in Group F after one match. Their opening fixture resulted in a 2-2 draw away to the Netherlands, a game that showcased their attacking promise but also highlighted some defensive vulnerabilities. With no wins yet, their record stands at zero wins, one draw, and no losses.
On the goals front, Japan has scored twice but also conceded twice, leaving their goal difference at zero. The team’s resilience was evident in securing a point on the road, but clean sheets remain elusive. This cautious start fits with their history of cautious progress in major tournaments, having reached the Round of 16 on four occasions previously.
Looking ahead, Japan will need to sharpen both defence and attack in their upcoming fixtures if they are to progress beyond the group stage once again. Their blend of experience and youth suggests they have the tools; now it’s about putting them together to avoid another early exit and perhaps, just perhaps, write a new chapter in their World Cup story.
Group F
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | +6 | 7 |
| 2 |  Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +4 | 5 |
| 3 |  Sweden | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 |  Tunisia | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -10 | 0 |
Squad pedigree
12 of 22 squad players (55%) play club football in a top-5 European league.
Spotlight
League position
Position 17Points trajectory
Rank 17FIFA world ranking
#13
Manager
H. Moriyasu
Japan
Season at a glance
Streaks
Last result
Japan's Form in World Cup 2026
Japan's campaign in World Cup 2026 has started with a steady if unspectacular draw in their opening group match, scoring twice but conceding as many. Their form in the tournament so far reflects a side that’s neither winning nor losing, but carefully treading water.
Looking at their recent results across competitions, Japan’s season has been marked by inconsistency rather than a flowing run of results. The absence of a winning streak and a record showing one draw with no defeats or victories in the World Cup group stage suggest points have been dropped more through drawn matches than by losses.
This pattern of results points to a team that can both score and concede goals on the road, as seen in their away draw with two goals for and against. They’ll need to sharpen their teeth if they want to improve on their best World Cup finish: the Round of 16, achieved on four previous occasions.
Statistics
Home / Away splits
Week-by-week trends
team vs league avg (dashed)Japan's Home and Away Performances in World Cup 2026
Japan's recent World Cup 2026 group phase exploits reveal an intriguing split between home and away form. At home, Japan has yet to find the net or keep a clean sheet, indicating a somewhat cautious approach or perhaps nerves playing on familiar turf. Conversely, away matches have seen Japan net two goals but concede an equal amount, suggesting a more open and adventurous style when playing on the road.
This contrast might indicate that Japan prefers to absorb pressure and counterattack abroad, while their home strategy leans towards containment. With no clean sheets yet, defensive solidity remains a work in progress. Their ability to adapt between home and away games will be pivotal as they seek to progress beyond the group stage for the fifth time.
Fipster's Record on Japan
Fipster has had a bit of a rocky start with Japan this World Cup 2026 campaign, having graded only one fixture so far. Unfortunately, that prediction missed the mark, leaving the model still building its record on the Samurai Blue. With one draw in their opening group match, Japan will be aiming to sharpen their form as Fipster looks to find its footing predicting their performances in this tournament.
Squad
| # | Player | Pos | Club | League | Apps | G | A | Mins | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Z. SuzukiGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper |  Parma |  Serie A | 23 | 0 | 0 | 1804 | 7.08 |
| 12 |  K. OsakoGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper |  Sanfrecce Hiroshima |  J1 League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 23 |  T. HayakawaGoalkeeper | Goalkeeper |  Kashima | J1 League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 |  S. TaniguchiDefender | Defender | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 |  K. ItakuraDefender | Defender |  Ajax |  Eredivisie | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1379 | 7.05 |
| 5 |  Y. NagatomoDefender | Defender |  FC Tokyo | J1 League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 16 |  T. WatanabeDefender | Defender |  Feyenoord | Eredivisie | 30 | 2 | 0 | 2637 | 7.12 |
| 20 |  A. SekoDefender | Defender |  Le Havre |  Ligue 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 2625 | 6.82 |
| 21 |  H. ItoDefender | Defender |  Bayern München |  Bundesliga | 21 | 1 | 2 | 932 | 6.83 |
| 22 |  T. TomiyasuDefender | Defender | Ajax | Eredivisie | 15 | 0 | 1 | 247 | 6.80 |
| 25 |  J. SuzukiDefender | Defender |  FC Copenhagen |  UEFA Champions League | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 |  Y. SugawaraMidfielder | Midfielder |  Werder Bremen | Bundesliga | 32 | 0 | 6 | 2432 | 6.66 |
| 7 |  A. TanakaMidfielder | Midfielder |  Leeds |  Premier League | 37 | 2 | 0 | 1326 | 6.75 |
| 13 |  Keito NakamuraMidfielder | Midfielder | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 17 |  Y. SuzukiMidfielder | Midfielder |  SC Freiburg | Bundesliga | 29 | 4 | 2 | 1636 | 6.78 |
| 24 |  K. SanoMidfielder | Midfielder |  FSV Mainz 05 | Bundesliga | 34 | 1 | 2 | 3059 | 7.05 |
| 6 |  S. MachinoAttacker | Attacker |  Borussia Mönchengladbach | Bundesliga | 33 | 3 | 1 | 1084 | 6.68 |
| 8 |  T. KuboAttacker | Attacker |  Real Sociedad |  La Liga | 25 | 2 | 3 | 1472 | 7.12 |
| 9 |  K. GotoAttacker | Attacker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 |  R. DōanAttacker | Attacker |  Eintracht Frankfurt | Bundesliga | 32 | 5 | 5 | 2379 | 6.83 |
| 11 |  D. MaedaAttacker | Attacker |  Celtic |  Premiership | 36 | 14 | 6 | 2837 | 6.80 |
| 14 |  J. ItoAttacker | Attacker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 |  D. KamadaAttacker | Attacker |  Crystal Palace | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1915 | 6.93 |
| 18 |  A. UedaAttacker | Attacker | Feyenoord | Eredivisie | 31 | 25 | 1 | 2533 | 7.14 |
| 19 |  Koki OgawaAttacker | Attacker |  NEC Nijmegen | Eredivisie | 34 | 8 | 3 | 1279 | 6.87 |
| 26 |  K. ShiogaiAttacker | Attacker |  VfL Wolfsburg | Bundesliga | 16 | 7 | 0 | 363 | 6.86 |
