The Chameleons of the Tournament
Japan is widely considered the most tactically flexible team in the 2026 World Cup. Under Hajime Moriyasu, they have mastered the art of adapting to their opponents in real-time.
Midfield Dominance
The Samurai Blue boast an incredibly deep midfield featuring Wataru Endo and Takefusa Kubo. They can retain 60% possession against weaker sides, or sit in a rigid 5-4-1 low block and punish European giants on the counter, as they famously did to Germany and Spain in 2022.
If Japan can find a consistent goalscorer to finish their chances, they are a strong bet to reach their first-ever World Cup quarter-final.