Can one of the darlings of the 2022 FIFA World Cup make another magical run this year?
Japan won Group E four years ago, besting soccer superpowers and past champions Germany and Spain, and it will have to advance past some more stiff competition in 2026. The team has been drawn into Group F with perennial title contenders the Netherlands, as well as Sweden and Tunisia.
The Dutch will be the favorites to top the group, especially with Japan down a Premier League star, but don’t count out the elimination-round experience the latter brings to the table.
Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m. (Fox): Netherlands vs. Japan, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Sunday, June 14, 9 p.m. (FS1): Sweden vs. Tunisia, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)
Saturday, June 20, 12 p.m. (Fox): Netherlands vs. Sweden, NRG Stadium (Houston)
Friday, June 19, 11 p.m. (FS1): Tunisia vs. Japan, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)
Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m. (FS1): Japan vs. Sweden, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
Thursday, June 25, 6 p.m. (Fox): Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
Japan will enter the 2026 World Cup without maybe its best offensive player, as Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma was held off the final squad as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered in May.
The 28-year-old was an impact player four years ago and had an improbable assist (keeping the ball in bounds at the endline by millimeters) against Spain to help propel Japan to the top of its group.
Japan will have to rely on its other professional talent to advance in 2026, including Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada.
AloJapan.com