WC2026
コラム2026-05-16

[Mixed Reactions] 24 Hours After Japan's 26-Man Squad Announcement — 20 Voices on Moriyasu Japan's Final Form

24 hours after the JFA announced the 26-man roster for the 2026 World Cup. The selection of Yuito Suzuki, Kento Shiobayashi, and Keisuke Goto, along with the omission of Kaoru Mitoma, Hidemasa Morita, and Takumi Minamino, triggered a flood of mixed reactions across social media and the press. A quick roundup of 20 raw voices — 4 critical, 4 neutral, 10 positive, and 2 from overseas — plus this site's own take.

#W杯#日本代表

local_fire_department Critical Voices — "The unexpected gamble carries too much risk"

S

Sports newspaper desk editor, Kanto

Selecting Yuito Suzuki immediately after collarbone surgery is clearly a gamble. Calling up Yuki Ohashi or Saki Chiba as alternatives was also an option.
O

Office worker in his 30s (Chiba)

A World Cup without Kaoru Mitoma — just who is this World Cup even for? I wanted them to bring him along even knowing the injury risk.
H

Housewife in her 40s (Tokyo)

Shiogai and Goto — two young players I've never even heard of making their World Cup debut out of nowhere? Is Manager Moriyasu just playing around? I wanted selections made after proper evaluation in actual matches.
F

Former J.League player & pundit

Having Morita, Minamino, and Joto Chima drop out simultaneously strips the midfield of a great deal of tactical flexibility. The loss of experience is a clear negative.

info Neutral Voices — "The verdict depends on how the squad is managed"

S

Sports writer A

I can read Moriyasu's intent to take risks in attack while relying on experience in defense. But whether that balance works can only be judged when the tournament begins.
U

University student in his 20s (Tokyo)

Yuito Suzuki and Kento Shiogai may not be household names, but their reputations in Europe are genuine. How they're used will probably change the way people see this.
E

Editor at a football specialist magazine

If a back three is used, Junnosuke Suzuki is the best fit at left stopper. But the balance of Ueda as the lone striker up top with everyone else as a wildcard option is distinctive.
F

Former Japan international (1990s)

In the end, the only thing that matters is producing results on the pitch. Until June 15, we won't know how Moriyasu selects his starting lineup for the first match.

star Positive Voices — "Going for the title means bold selections"

O

Office worker in his 30s (Osaka)

The attacking options have grown so much stronger all at once! Maeda, Ueda, Shiogai, Goto, and Ogawa — five completely different types, expanding the tactical range.
U

University supporter (Waseda, 20s)

A standing ovation for Kento Shiogai's selection! Going from leaving Keio University to making his World Cup debut in just a year and a half — that's pure romance.
F

Former high school football coach (Shizuoka, 60s)

Calling up 191 cm Keisuke Goto was absolutely the right call. Having a player who won't be outjumped by Sweden's towering CBs is a huge asset.
F

Footballista reader (30s, Kanagawa)

The decision to bring Yuito Suzuki straight from his Bundesliga reputation takes courage. His role as a super-sub is clear.
N

Nagatomo fan (50s, Tokyo)

Yuto Nagatomo at his fifth World Cup! The legend chasing a world record is indispensable to the squad — not least as a spiritual pillar.
G

GK supporter (20s, Saitama)

Zion Suzuki having established himself as first-choice GK at Parma and leading the WC 2026 goal — that story alone is enough to make WC 2026 worth watching.
J

J2 supporter (40s, Chiba)

The midfield partnership of Kaishū Sano and Ao Tanaka is the embodiment of a "high-running midfield." It's great to see the trend toward younger players from mid-tier clubs taking center stage.
T

TV pundit (former international MF)

Losing Morita and Minamino is genuinely painful. But Kamada and Endo provide the experienced backbone in midfield while the youngsters bring a fresh breeze. I see this as a generational shift that makes sense.
J

Japan supporter based in Spain (40s)

A frontline built around Takefusa Kubo with Ritsu Doan and Keito Nakamura in support is a fusion of the technical culture of La Liga and the hard-working spirit that defines Japan.
M

Moriyasu supporter (50s, Hiroshima)

Having carried the frustration of the Qatar tournament all this way and spent three and a half years building this team, my trust i

live_tv Reactions from Overseas Media

D

Dutch journalist (De Telegraaf)

Japan loses Mitoma but gains Yuito Suzuki ― I worry this could be a fatal trade against the Netherlands' high line.
G

German journalist (kicker)

Wolfsburg's Shiogai and Freiburg's Suzuki are both Bundesliga-bred. Their selections show Moriyasu's smart eye for European-tested talent.

favorite Our Site's View — A Measured Yet Aggressive Selection: A Squad Truly Chasing the Title

This site evaluates the 26-man roster as a well-grounded selection that also radiates high ambition. The divisive omission of Kaoru Mitoma and the inclusion of Yuito Suzuki, Kento Shiogai, and Keisuke Goto — "future ace candidates" all — are read here as a direct statement that Moriyasu is dead serious about going for the title.

To win, forwards are essential. In a World Cup, rather than loading up on "a Mitoma carrying injury risk" or "veterans of uncertain fitness," building a core of ambitious forwards and midfielders who are at the very peak of their reputations right now is the more grounded approach. Carrying multiple unknowns — Yuito Suzuki's collarbone fracture, Shiogai's absence from the senior squad, and Goto's first full squad call-up only six months ago — is certainly a source of anxiety. But the choice to accept those risks in order to secure greater depth in attacking options makes clear that the plan for Group F is not merely to "dig in and target set pieces," but to win through a variety of weapons in open play.

Had this been a squad that shrank from injury, flinched at heavy defeats, and packed bodies behind midfield in pursuit of safety nets, we would have lost our reason to truly cheer for this team. Instead, these 26 players represent a selection that genuinely makes you feel this is a squad aiming to win. This site offers its full and unequivocal endorsement of Moriyasu and Samurai Blue's determination to go for the win.

Just one month remains until kickoff against the Netherlands on June 15. That is where the "answer" to this selection begins to be revealed.

Sources

Last updated: 2026-05-16

関連する記事

ニュース2026-06-05

[Roundup] FIFA World Cup 2026 Pre-Tournament International Friendlies (June 2–5): Full Results for Participating Nations — Japan's First Opponent Netherlands, Powerhouses Spain & France Complete Final Preparations / Scores, Scorers & Takeaways by Group

ニュース2026-06-02

[Roundup] FIFA World Cup 2026 Pre-Tournament International Friendlies (May 31 & June 1) — Full Results by Group: Scores, Scorers, Highlights & Concerns

コラム2026-06-01

[Analysis] Japan 1-0 Iceland ― Left-Side Overload and Defensive Concerns Behind the Win, Plus Two Substitutes Who Shone

Back to News List

Are you enjoying this site?

To keep delivering World Cup 2026 information for free, we kindly ask for a small contribution from supporters like you. Your support goes toward the operation and upkeep of the site.

Support this site (from 100 yen)