[2026 World Cup – Japan National Team] Latest News Roundup on 6 Key Players | Tanaka Ao, Sano Kaishu, Kubo Takefusa, Morita Hidemasa, Nakamura Keito, Kamada Daichi
With approximately 2 months to go until the 2026 World Cup, this feature brings together the latest news on 6 standout Japan national team players — Tanaka Ao, Sano Kaishu, Kubo Takefusa, Morita Hidemasa, Nakamura Keito, and Kamada Daichi — covering both their club and international performances.
With roughly two months to go until WC 2026 kicks off, what are Japan's standout players getting up to at club and international level? This time we focus on six players to watch, bringing together the latest news on each of them in one place.
- sports_soccer Ao Tanaka | 4th goal in 4 FA Cup matches this season at Leeds!
- sports_soccer Kaishu Sano | Growing into one of the Bundesliga's best midfielders at Mainz, valuation exceeds ¥10 billion
- sports_soccer Takefusa Kubo | Named on the bench for the first time in roughly two and a half months — return imminent
- sports_soccer Hidemasa Morita | All business at Sporting, with assists in two consecutive matches
- sports_soccer Keito Nakamura | Sets up the winning goal against England, stakes his claim on a wing spot
- sports_soccer Daichi Kamada | Hailed as "the man unbeaten at Wembley," impresses as the team's orchestrator
sports_soccer Ao Tanaka (Leeds United · MF)
Scores the FA Cup quarter-final opener at Leeds — his 3rd goal of the season
On April 5, Leeds faced West Ham in the FA Cup quarter-final. Ao Tanaka started as one of the double pivot and was involved in build-up play from early in the match.
In the 26th minute, he received the ball inside the centre circle, slipped past a defender, and played it wide left before driving into the box. He then collected a cross from FW Noah Okafor inside the penalty area and, after cutting back with the sole of his right foot, unleashed a sharp left-footed shot that found the net.
It was his 4th official goal of the season, and Leeds went on to beat West Ham on penalties, reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 39 years.
Tanaka is also a nailed-on starter as one of the double pivot for Japan, and is in excellent physical and mental condition at club level. Expectations are high as the World Cup approaches.
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sports_soccer Kaishu Sano (Mainz · MF)
Growing into one of the Bundesliga's best midfielders, transfer fee could exceed ¥10 billion
Kaishu Sano has continued to deliver consistent performances at Mainz this season. He ranks 3rd in the Bundesliga for distance covered and 2nd for duels won — top-class statistics — and has started every minute of all 8 official matches.
In the March 22 match against Frankfurt he created a big chance with a through-ball to Sheraldo Becker, and in the 89th minute drove forward and provided the catalyst for the winning goal. He was equally dynamic in attack and defence in the April 4 match against Hoffenheim, contributing to another team victory.
According to local reports, Mainz's hierarchy have decided they will not sell for less than ¥9.2 billion, and interest is growing from big clubs in England and Spain. The possibility of a transfer fee exceeding ¥10 billion — a first for a Japanese player — has also been raised.
At the World Cup, all eyes will be on him to serve as the primary defensive midfielder, acting as the midfield filter and the starting point of build-up play.
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sports_soccer Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad · MF)
Named on the bench for the first time in roughly two and a half months, signalling his return is near
On April 4, in La Liga Matchday 30 against Levante, Takefusa Kubo was included in the squad's bench for the first time in approximately two and a half months since suffering a left hamstring injury in the January 18 match against Barcelona.
He did not come on, but the team won 2-0 against Levante. Sociedad head coach Sergio Araguacil had said before the match, "Kubo's return is wonderful news," hinting at a possible appearance that gameweek.
Kubo returned to full team training on March 23 for the first time in about two months, and fans are now eagerly anticipating his return to competitive action. With just two months until the World Cup, managing his fitness in a short space of time will be crucial — but as Japan's ace and an indispensable figure for the Group F campaign, his full recovery cannot come soon enough.
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sports_soccer Hidemasa Morita (Sporting CP · MF)
Delivers assists in two consecutive matches, showcasing his reliability
On April 3, Sporting CP MF Hidemasa Morita registered an assist for the second consecutive match in Matchday 28 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga against CD Santa Clara. A deft, delicate pass set up the winning goal against his former club, helping Sporting to a 4-2 victory. It was his 3rd assist of the season.
On March 4, he reached the milestone of 150 official appearances for Sporting CP. The club marked the occasion with a video on Instagram, and on the same day he started in the first leg of the Portuguese Cup semi-final against Porto, playing until the 66th minute as the team won 1-0.
He faces competition for his place from Sano and Wataru Endo in the national team, but his composure in possession and game management make him a lifeline for the squad. At the World Cup, he will be eager to finally take the pitch as a true first-choice starter in midfield.
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sports_soccer Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims · FW)
Sets up the winning goal against England, making a breakthrough as one of Japan's wing options
On April 1, Keito Nakamura played a key role in the Kirin World Challenge 2026 match against England held at Wembley.
In the 23rd minute, Kaoru Mitoma won the ball deep, drove forward, and played it to the left. Nakamura delivered a cross which Mitoma finished directly on the volley in a beautiful piece of combination play, giving Japan the opening goal. That strike proved to be the only goal of the game as Japan beat England 1-0.
For some time, the two wide attacking positions had been seen as the domain of Mitoma and Junya Ito, but Nakamura has now burst onto the scene in emphatic fashion. He has also been scoring consistently for Stade de Reims, and talk of a surprise selection for the World Cup is growing.
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sports_soccer Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace · MF)
Makes his presence felt as the team's orchestrator, hailed as "the man unbeaten at Wembley"
Against England he partnered Sano in a double pivot in a 3-4-2-1 formation, controlling the match as the team's playmaker. From around the 60th minute he moved into a shadow striker role and was substituted off for Yukinari Sugawara in the 82nd minute.
A last-ditch clearance in front of goal that shut down an England midfielder — described by fans as an "otherworldly clearance" — left supporters in awe, with comments flooding in such as "He's completely in a class of his own" and "He's always exactly where you need him to be."
After the match, Kamada said calmly: "The game played out the way we had been targeting. Even in the difficult spells we kept a clean sheet, and I think it was an excellent test match."
Now in his second season at Crystal Palace and having helped bring silverware to the club, he is a first-team regular in London. For the national team too, he and Sano will surely be the lifeblood of midfield as creative game-changers.
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Summary
There are now very few weeks left until WC 2026 kicks off. Of the six players featured here, Tanaka, Sano, Morita, and Kamada are all firing consistently at club level and are in peak condition as pillars of the national team. Nakamura also registered an assist on the hallowed turf of Wembley against England, throwing down a real challenge in the battle for a wide attacking berth.
The only concern is Takefusa Kubo's fitness, though the positive news of his bench inclusion has given everyone a lift. The question is whether he can get himself to full fitness in time for the Group F opener against the Netherlands.
We will continue to keep a close eye on the movements of other key players including Ayase Ueda, Wataru Endo, Kaoru Mitoma, and Junya Ito.
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