The 2022 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Qatar. This will be the first World Cup ever to be held in the Arab world and the first in a Muslim-majority country. In addition, the tournament will be the last to involve (参加する、巻き込む、含む) 32 teams, with an increase to 48 teams scheduled for the 2026 tournament ( in the USA, Mexico and Canada).
However, FIFA president indicated (示す) that this change may come earlier for the 2022 World Cup. Expanding the World Cup to 48 teams could be brought forward to the 2022 World Cup (since 1998 there have been 32 teams competing at the World Cup).
In any case, you must be looking forward to…
Therefore, we’ll show you some Japanese soccer players who will probably succeed for the 2022 World Cup.
Takuma Asano ☆
Takuma Asano plays for Hannover 96 of the Bundesliga, on loan from Premier League club Arsenal, and for the Japan national team (he was refused a work permit to play in the Premier League. So he was loaned out to VfB Stuttgart first). And In 2018, he was loaned out again to another Bundesliga team for the season, Hannover 96.
◉ 2013～2016 : Sanfrecce Hiroshima
◉ 2016～ : Arsenal
◉ 2016～2018 : VfB Stuttgart (loan)
◉ 2018～ : Hannover 96 (loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 10 November, 1994
🔴 Current team : Hannover 96 (on loan from Arsenal)
🔵 Height : 171cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Yosuke Ideguchi ★
(After playing for Gamba Osaka) In 2018, he joined Leeds United (England) on a four-and-a-half year deal and went on a half a season loan to Cultural Leonesa (Spain), But admitted he did not see him as first or second choice for any position. So he hasn’t been chosen the member of Japan national team for 2018 FIFA World Cup. We believe that he will probably succeed on 2022 FIFA World Cup.
◉ 2014～2017 : Gamba Osaka
◉ 2018～ : Leeds United
◉ 2018 : Cultural Leonesa (loan)
◉ 2018～ : Greuther Furth (loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 23 August, 1996
🔴 Current team : Greuther Furth (on loan from Leeds United)
🔵 Height : 171cm
🔴 playing position : MF
Junya Ito ☆
He plays for Genk (Belgium) on loan from Kashiwa Reysol in 2019. He is swift of foot (足が早い), can play as a right winger, a right midfield and a right back. Hope that he will greatly mature (一回り成長する) abroad. Let’s expect it!
◉ 2015 : Ventforet Kofu
◉ 2016～ : Kashiwa Reysol
◉ 2019〜 : Genk (loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 9 March, 1993
🔴 Current team : Genk
🔵 Height : 176cm
🔴 playing position : MF, FW
Naomichi Ueda ★
After being part of 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad (チーム) in place of Atsuto Uchida (injured), Japan’s coach Halilhodzic called him for a two-days training camp. And then, he was named in Japan’s preliminary (予備的な) squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He has absolute (絶対の) confidence in the strength of his body (physical).
◉ 2013〜2018 : Kashima Antlers
◉ 2018～ : Cercle Brugge
🔵 Date of birth : 24 October, 1994
🔴 Current team : Cercle Brugge
🔵 Height : 186cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Takashi Usami ☆
He made club history by making his professional debut for Gamba Osaka at the age of 17 years and scoring a goal in the same match.
◉ 2009～2016 : Gamba Osaka
◉ 2011～ : Bayern Munich (loan)
◉ 2012～ : Hoffenheim (loan)
◉ 2016～ : FC Augsburg
◉ 2017～ : Fortuna Dusseldorf (loan)
In 2018 he was named in Japan’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and is expected that he will be largely successful in the next tournament.
🔵 Date of birth : 6 May, 1992
🔴 Current team : Fortuna Dusseldorf
🔵 Height : 178cm
🔴 playing position : MF, FW
Wataru Endo ★
Japan’s coach Halilhodzic called him for the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup and he was a captain of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Although he didn’t play in any of the matches, he was named in Japan’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. After that, he was the central player on the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He is expected that he will be largely successful in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
◉ 2010～2015 : Shonan Bellmare
◉ 2016～2018 : Urawa Red Diamonds
◉ 2018～ : Sint-Truiden
🔵 Date of birth : 9 February, 1993
🔴 Current team : Sint-Truiden
🔵 Height : 178cm
🔴 playing position : MF, DF
Yuya Osako ☆
In the opening match of 2018 World Cup, he scored the second goal for Japan by a header (against Colombia), thus helping Japan become the first Asian team to beat a South American team in the World Cup history. He also appeared for Japan in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup hosted by the United Arab Emirates. He scored four goals to help them reach the final.
◉ 2009～2013 : Kashima Antlers
◉ 2014 : 1860 Munich
◉ 2014～2018 : FC Köln
◉ 2018～ : Werder Bremen
🔵 Date of birth : 18 May, 1990
🔴 Current team : Werder Bremen
🔵 Height : 182cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Ado Onaiwu ★
Ado Onaiwu is the son of a Japanese mother and a Nigerian father. He plays as a forward for Oita Trinita in J1 League (in 2019).Though he is not a player who is completed perfectly, he has high potential abilities hidden.
◉ 2014～2016 : JEF United Chiba
◉ 2017～ : Urawa Red Diamonds
◉ 2018 : Renofa Yamaguchi (loan)
◉ 2019～ : Oita Trinita (loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 8 November, 1995
🔴 Current team : Oita Trinita
🔵 Height : 180cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Daichi Kamada ☆
In 2017, he joined Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt. He has diverse (多彩な) abilities such as “wide angle view”, “ball controllability”, and so on. He has also high potential abilities hidden.
◉ 2015～2017 : Sagan Tosu
◉ 2017〜 : Eintracht Frankfurt
◉ 2018～ : Sint-Truidense V.V. (loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 5 August, 1996
🔴 Current team : Sint-Truidense V.V.
🔵 Height : 180cm
🔴 playing position : MF
Kosuke Kinoshita ★
He was playing for Halmstads BK in Allsvenskan, the highest league in Sweden. He became the first football player from Japan to play in Allsvenskan. And he plays for Sint-Truidense V.V. since 2019.
◉ 2016 : FC08 Homburg
◉ 2017～2018 : Halmstads BK
◉ 2019〜 : Sint-Truidense V.V.
🔵 Date of birth : 3 October, 1994
🔴 Current team : Sint-Truidense V.V.
🔵 Height : 190cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Yuya Kubo ☆
He has been involved in (～に関わる) the Japan National Team from U-16 to U-23 level. He received his first call up to the senior team for the Kirin Challenge Cup, a friendly match against Iceland in 2012. In 2017, he scored one goal and gave one assist in 2–0 win over UAE in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. Japan needs his power more in near the future.
◉ 2011～2013 : Kyoto Sanga
◉ 2013〜2016 : BSC Young Boys (Swiss)
◉ 2017～ : Gent (Belgium)
◉ 2018〜 : Nürnberg ( Bundesliga : loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 24 December, 1993
🔴 Current team : Nurnberg
🔵 Height : 178cm
🔴 playing position : FW, MF
Yuta Koike ★
In 2017, he’s got a gold medal on Universiade (the World Student Games) and won the soccer championship of university. And he joined Sint-Truidense V.V. in 2018.
🔵 Date of birth : 6 November, 1996
🔴 Current team : Sint-Truidense V.V.
🔵 Height : 170cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Ryuta Koike ☆
He wasn’t able to become a professional player immediately after graduating from high school.He’s grown up little by little, and is indispensable (不可欠な) for Kashiwa Reysol now. By the way, Shoya Nakajima is his cousin.
🔵 Date of birth : 28 August, 1995
🔴 Current team : Kashiwa Reysol
🔵 Height : 169cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Shuichi Gonda ★
He has made many appearances in all competitions for J1 League club FC Tokyo between 2007 and 2016. During that time he has won four honours with Tokyo and two with his national team Japan. And He has also made 32 appearances at various youth levels for Japan. After 9 years with FC Tokyo, he left Japanese football for the first time in 2016 as he agreed to join Keisuke Honda’s Austrian Regional League side SV Horn on loan.
◉ 2007〜2016 : FC Tokyo
◉ 2016 : SV Horn (loan)
◉ 2017〜2018 : Sagan Tosu
◉ 2019～ : Portimonense SC (Portugal)
🔵 Date of birth : 3 March, 1989
🔴 Current team : Portimonense SC
🔵 Height : 187cm
🔴 playing position : GK
Gaku Shibasaki ☆
He rose to prominence (名声を上げる) after scoring twice for Kashima Antlers in the final of the 2016 Club World Cup against Real Madrid. Real Madrid would eventually go on to win the match 4–2 albeit in extra time, after a hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo. He also scored his goal for Getafe against FC Barcelona in 2017.
◉ 2011～2016 : Kashima Antlers
◉ 2017 : Tenerife
◉ 2017～ : Getafe
🔵 Date of birth : 28 May, 1992
🔴 Current team : Getafe (Spain)
🔵 Height : 175cm
🔴 playing position : MF
Daniel Schmidt ★
Born in the United States to a German-American father and Japanese mother, he moved to Sendai (Japan) at the age of two. In 2018, he received his first international callup from the Japan national football team after the end of the 2018 World Cup. He played his first competitive match for Japan in 2019 in the 2-1 win against Uzbekistan during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
◉ 2014〜 : Vegalta Sendai
◉ 2014〜 : Rosso Kumamoto (loan)
◉ 2016〜 : Matsumoto Yamaga (loan)
◉ 2017～ : Vegalta Sendai
🔵 Date of birth : 3 February, 1992
🔴 Current team : Vegalta Sendai
🔵 Height : 197cm
🔴 playing position : GK
Gen Shoji ☆
One of the few Asian nations to have a good representation (代表、表現) in European football is Japan. Players like Keisuke Honda, Shinji Okazaki, Shinji Kagawa, Ritsu Doan, and others have all played for European clubs in the past. And one more Blue Samurai set to join the exclusive club is Gen Shoji, who has been snapped up by French club Toulouse in 2019. 2018 was a memorable year for Gen Shoji. The 26-year-old found himself in the 23-man shortlist for the FIFA World Cup in Russia and was the first choice centre-back on three of Japan’s four matches.
◉ 2011～2018 : Kashima Antlers
◉ 2019〜 : Toulouse (France)
🔵 Date of birth : 11 December, 1992
🔴 Current team : Toulouse
🔵 Height : 182cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Yuma Suzuki ★
He was called up to the Japan national team squad for the first time before Kirin Challenge Cup 2018, but he exclude because suffered an Ankle sprain in his team’s AFC Champions League. On the other hand, he was chosen as one of the candidates (候補者) for award 2018 Asian Footballer of the year.
🔵 Date of birth : 26 April, 1996
🔴 Current team : Kashima Antlers
🔵 Height : 182cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Takahiro Sekine ☆
He plays as a midfielder for St. Truiden on loam from FC Ingolstadt 04. He has high potential abilities hidden and is expected that he will be successful in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
◉ 2014～2017 : Urawa Red Diamonds
◉ 2017〜 : FC Ingolstadt (Germany)
◉ 2018～ : Sint Truiden (Belgium：loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 19 April, 1995
🔴 Current team : Sint Truiden
🔵 Height : 167cm
🔴 playing position : MF, FW
Yuta Toyokawa ★
He was part of the Japan U-23’s that won the AFC U-23 Championship in 2016. He plays as a forward for Belgian club Eupen since 2018.
◉ 2013〜2017 : Kashima Antlers
◉ 2016〜2017 : Fabiano Okayama (loan)
◉ 2018〜 : Eupen (Belgium)
🔵 Date of birth : 9 September, 1994
🔴 Current team : Eupen (Belgium)
🔵 Height : 173cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Shoya Nakajima ☆
He plays for Al-Duhail (Qatar) and the Japanese national team. He has infinite (無限の) possibilities (可能性) as the best player ever in Japan.
◉ 2012～2013 : Tokyo Verdy
◉ 2014〜 2018 : FC Tokyo
◉ 2014 : Kataller Toyama (loan)
◉ 2017〜2018 : Portimonense (loan)
◉ 2018～2019 : Portimonense
◉ 2019〜 : Al-Duhail
🔵 Date of birth : 23 August, 1994
🔴 Current team : Al-Duhail (Qatar)
🔵 Height : 167cm
🔴 playing position : MF, FW
Takuma Nishimura ★
He plays for CSKA Moscow. He signed a 4-year contract with the Russian Premier League club PFC CSKA Moscow. We believe that he will probably succeed on 2022 FIFA World Cup.
🔵 Date of birth : 22 October, 1996
🔴 Current team : CSKA Moscow
🔵 Height : 178cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Genta Miura ☆
He earned his first call up to Japan’s national team, then managed by Halilhodzic, ahead of the 2017 EAFF E-1 Football Championship and debuted in the 2-1 win over China. He also played in the 4-1 defeat to South Korea 4 days later which saw Japan finish as runners-up in the tournament. His next international involvement came in 2018 under new national team coach Hajime Moriyasu. He was also named in Japan’s squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE.
◉ 2013～2016 : Shimizu S-Pulse
◉ 2017〜 : Gamba Osaka
🔵 Date of birth : 1 March, 1995
🔴 Current team : Gamba Osaka
🔵 Height : 183cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Kento Misao ★
He was elected Japan U-17 national team for 2013 U-17 World Cup and was named in Japan’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia (he didn’t make the final 23). However he was chosen as one of the candidates for award 2018 Asian Footballer of the year.
◉ 2015 : Tokyo Verdy
◉ 2016〜 : Kashima Antlers
🔵 Date of birth : 16 April, 1996
🔴 Current team : Kashima Antlers
🔵 Height : 181cm
🔴 playing position : MF
Takumi Minamino ☆
In 2011, he was elected Japan U-17 national team for U-17 World Cup. And he was elected Japan U-23 national team for 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2019, he made his Asian Cup debut. He plays as a forward for Austrian club FC Red Bull Salzburg.
◉ 2012～2015 : Cerezo Osaka
◉ 2015〜 : Red Bull Salzburg
🔵 Date of birth : 16 January, 1995
🔴 Current team : Red Bull Salzburg
🔵 Height : 174cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Ryo Miyaichi ★
He has played in the Premier League with clubs such as Arsenal, Wigan Athletic and Bolton Wanderers. He as well featured for Feyenoord and Twente in the Eredivisie. Japan’s former manager Alberto Zaccheroni has said that “Miyaichi’s strengths are on the flanks and creating space going forward.” He plays as a winger for FC St. Pauli in the 2. Bundesliga now.
◉ 2011〜2015 : Arsenal
◉ 2011 : Feyenoord (loan)
◉ 2012 : Bolton Wanderers (loan)
◉ 2012〜2013 : Wigan Athletic (loan)
◉ 2014〜2015 : Twente (loan)
◉ 2015〜 : St. Pauli
🔵 Date of birth : 14 December, 1992
🔴 Current team : FC St. Pauli
🔵 Height : 183cm
🔴 playing position : FW
Yoshinori Muto ☆
He plays for English club Newcastle United and the Japan national team as a forward. In 2015, he signed for German club Mainz 05 and then, moved to Premier League club Newcastle United in August 2018 (after FIFA World Cup 2018).
◉ 2013～2015 : FC Tokyo
◉ 2015〜2018 : Mainz 05
◉ 2018～ : Newcastle United
🔵 Date of birth : 15 July, 1992
🔴 Current team : Newcastle United
🔵 Height : 179cm
🔴 playing position : FW, MF
Sei Muroya ★
In 2011, he was elected Japan U-17 national team for 2011 U-17 World Cup and has been a member of the Japan national U-23 team since 2015. He joined FC Tokyo (J1 League) in 2016 and also called up for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
🔵 Date of birth : 5 April, 1994
🔴 Current team : FC Tokyo
🔵 Height : 176cm
🔴 playing position : DF
Ryota Morioka ☆
After six seasons with Vissel Kobe, he moved to Śląsk Wrocław in 2016 and became the most expensive player ever at Waasland-Beveren in 2017. He plays for Belgian Pro League side Charleroi since 2019.
◉ 2010～2015 : Vissel Kobe
◉ 2016〜2017 : Śląsk Wrocław (Poland)
◉ 2017～2018 : Waasland-Beveren (Belgium)
◉ 2018〜 : Anderlecht (Belgium)
◉ 2019～ : Charleroi (Belgium ：loan)
🔵 Date of birth : 12 April, 1991
🔴 Current team : Charleroi
🔵 Height : 180cm
🔴 playing position : MF
Hidemasa Morita ★
He was a nameless player until a second year university student. After that, he is gradually coming to the front. (次第に頭角を表してきた)。He joined Kawasaki Frontale in 2018 and he is very successful since the first year. He was elected Japan national team for 2019 AFC Asian Cup, but an injury put him out of action.
🔵 Date of birth : 10 May, 1995
🔴 Current team : Kawasaki Frontale
🔵 Height : 177cm
🔴 playing position : MF, DF