Japan lose Mitoma and Minamino to injury as World Cup squad announced
The Japan national team has suffered a significant blow ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with key players Kaoru Mitoma and Takumi Minamino ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Announcing their 26-man squad on May 15, 2026, Japan's coaching staff confirmed that Mitoma, who plays for Brighton in the English Premier League, has suffered a torn hamstring. The medical team assessing his recovery have deemed it impossible for him to return to action during the World Cup, dealing a major blow to the team's attacking options. Meanwhile, Minamino, who plays for Monaco, tore his ACL in December 2025 and, despite attempting recovery, was not selected for the World Cup squad.
The news is a major blow to Japan's chances of success in the tournament, which is set to be one of the most competitive in recent history. With eight places available to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Japan will be looking to build on their strong recent form, having reached the Round of 16 in 2022 and beating Germany and Spain in the group stage. The squad announced by Japan's coaching staff includes a mix of experienced players and exciting young talent, with goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and players from top European clubs such as Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada included.
"We're disappointed to lose Mitoma and Minamino, but we have a talented squad and we're confident in our ability to succeed without them," said Japan's head coach. "We've worked hard to prepare for the World Cup and we're looking forward to getting started." The loss of Mitoma and Minamino will be a significant blow to Japan's attacking options, but the team's available attackers, including Ritsu Doan and Daichi Kamada, will be looking to step up and fill the void.
Japan's fans will be hoping that their team can overcome the loss of their star players and make a deep run in the tournament. With a strong squad and a positive attitude, anything is possible. "We're a team that's used to overcoming adversity," said Japan's captain. "We'll miss Mitoma and Minamino, but we'll work together to achieve our goals." The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be one of the most exciting tournaments in recent history, and Japan will be looking to make a statement.
With the tournament just around the corner, Japan will be looking to get their campaign off to a strong start. They face a tough group stage draw, but with a talented squad and a positive attitude, they'll be hoping to make a deep run in the competition. The loss of Mitoma and Minamino will be a significant blow, but Japan's fans will be hoping that their team can overcome the adversity and achieve great things.
