Injured Kaoru Mitoma Omitted From Japan’s World Cup Squad

Kaoru Mitoma has been left out of Japan national football team’s 26-man squad for this summer’s FIFA World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury.

The Brighton & Hove Albion winger sustained the setback during Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend and is now expected to miss the club’s remaining Premier League fixtures against Leeds United and Manchester United.

Japan, who have been drawn in Group F, will begin their World Cup campaign against Netherlands national football team on 14 June before further group-stage matches against Tunisia national football team on 21 June and Sweden national football team five days later.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu announced his final squad on Friday, with notable inclusions such as Wataru Endo of Liverpool, Daichi Kamada from Crystal Palace, Ao Tanaka of Leeds United and Daizen Maeda from Celtic.

Speaking after the squad announcement, Moriyasu admitted Mitoma’s absence would be a major blow to the national side.

“We have lost a major presence,” the Japan manager said emotionally.

“This will hurt him more than it hurts anyone else.

“I hope that once he overcomes this difficult moment, he recovers as quickly as possible and returns to playing with complete freedom.”

Earlier this week, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler confirmed the club would need to take a cautious approach regarding Mitoma’s recovery.

“We really have to be patient with his injury,” Hürzeler said on Thursday.

“At this stage, we cannot give a clear timetable for when he will return.”

The expanded 48-team World Cup will begin on 11 June and will be jointly hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico.

Japan’s World Cup Squad
Goalkeepers

Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Aya Suzuka (Parma)

Defenders

Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Ko Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junosuke Suzuki (FC Copenhagen)

Midfielders

Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Junya Ito (Genk), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Koki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)

Forwards

Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Keito Nakamura (Stade de Reims), Ito Suzuki (SC Freiburg), Kento Shiode (VfL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)