Endo: Japan Poised for Breakthrough at 2026 World Cup
Japan have struggled to progress beyond the last 16 despite regular World Cup appearances. But captain Wataru Endo believes the squad can finally make a statement at the 2026 tournament. “I want people to see us play and think, ‘maybe those guys could really go and win the whole thing,’” Endo said in a recent interview with FIFA. He cites their Qatar 2022 run—where Japan upset Germany and Spain—as proof of their genuine quality. That tournament gave the players new confidence to adopt proactive football. Japan now find themselves in Group F alongside Sweden, Tunisia and the Netherlands. Endo insists this is the perfect stage to showcase their growth and aim for a deep run.
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