Previous World Cup appearances: 7Best performance: Last 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022)First appearance: 1998 (France)Top goal scorer: Keisuke Honda (4)Most appearances: Yuto Nagatomo (15)Player to watch: Takefusa KuboFIFA world ranking: 18thFixtures: Netherlands (June 14, Dallas, US), Tunisia (June 20, Monterrey, Mexico), Sweden (June 25, Dallas, US)Japan have been late bloomers in terms of World Cups, only reaching the tournament for the first time in 1998 – but since then they have been at every edition.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listWhile they have never gotten past the last 16 – even as cohosts in 2002 – their current crop of players is surely the most talented in the national side’s history.Japan were the first team – outside the hosts – to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The Samurai Blue have beaten Germany, Brazil, England and Spain since 2022.While they can beat any team on their day, it is unclear whether they can sustain a genuine title push throughout a long tournament and they have been rocked by an injury to star player Kaoru Mitoma.Statement win at WembleyIt was only a friendly, and England have rarely beaten top sides recently, and Wembley can have an awfully flat vibe; but for all the caveats, Japan’s recent win 1-0 there in March, courtesy of a Kaoru Mitoma goal was well deserved and sent a statement.It was only England coach Thomas Tuchel’s second defeat in charge of England following a perfect qualification campaign.Japan also beat a tricky Scotland side in the same international window. Advertisement In the last World Cup, Japan claimed famous wins over Spain and Germany …
