Confidence is running high in the Japan camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu has declared this the strongest squad he has ever managed, saying the dream of lifting the trophy is no longer just a dream.
Japan arrive at the tournament on the back of eight consecutive World Cup appearances, but the quarter-finals have always been the wall they cannot crack. Moriyasu is adamant that this time is different, pointing to the squad’s quality and collective hunger as reasons for genuine optimism.
Captain Wataru Endo echoed that belief, pledging that the entire side will push for a historic result and write a new chapter for Japanese football.
The praise is not coming from within alone. Lionel Messi, filmed recently for a commercial alongside Japan-related content, acknowledged the Samurai Blue as a formidable opponent, noting their tactical discipline and relentless pressing make them one of the hardest sides to break down at any level.
Japan open their campaign against the Netherlands this Sunday, a fixture that will quickly reveal how far this squad has truly come.
Moriyasu’s words carry the weight of a coach who has prepared thoroughly rather than spoken carelessly. A quarter-final run would be historic. Whether this squad has the depth and fortune to go even further is the question the tournament will answer.
