Kaoru Mitoma misses Japan's 2026 World Cup squad after picking up a hamstring injury.
Brighton and Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma has been excluded from Japan's 26-player selection for the upcoming World Cup. The 28-year-old picked up a hamstring strain during Brighton's recent 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, which will force him to miss the final two Premier League matches against Leeds United and Manchester United. The injury also rules him out of Japan's preparations for the tournament, which begins on June 11 in the expanded 48-team competition hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu finalized his 26-man roster on Friday, which includes several notable names. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, Crystal Palace attacker Daichi Kamada, Leeds United playmaker Ao Tanaka, and Celtic forward Daizen Maeda are among the players selected. The squad will kick off their World Cup campaign on June 14 in Group F with a match against the Netherlands, followed by games against Tunisia on June 21 and Sweden on June 26.
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler addressed Mitoma's situation on Thursday, stating that the club must take a cautious approach with his recovery. Hurzeler noted that a clear timeline for the player's return remains uncertain, adding that they need to be patient with his rehabilitation. The injury occurred during Brighton's recent league win, and the club is prioritizing his long-term fitness over rushing him back.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, expanding from the previous 32-team format. The tournament is co-hosted by three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Matches will begin on June 11, with Japan placed in Group F for the group stage. The expanded format aims to provide more opportunities for nations to compete at the global level.
Goalkeepers: Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Aya Suzuka (Parma Calcio).
| Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre AC), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junosuke Suzuki (FC Copenhagen).
| Midfielders: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
| Forwards: Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Ito Suzuki (SC Freiburg), Kento Shiode (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden).