From Team Leaders to Trusted Allies — Kagawa Shares Expectations for Japan at the Upcoming World Cup

〈Finally, the CONCACAF World Cup year has begun. Can Moriyasu Japan change the course of Japanese football history? To explore their current state, sports writer Etsuko Motokawa visited Shinji Kagawa, who has long worn the national team’s ace number. Having continuously competed against the world as a Japanese international, how does Kagawa view the current team?－－〉

Sending encouragement to Takefusa Kubo

With the CONCACAF World Cup just four months away, the Japan national team, now in the eighth year under head coach Hajime Moriyasu (57), has been praised as potentially the strongest in history, having, for example, defeated the football powerhouse Brazil for the first time in October 2025.

Expectations are high that the team can reach its best-ever top eight or beyond, but attacking mainstays such as Takumi Minamino (31, Monaco) and Takefusa Kubo (24, Real Sociedad) have suffered consecutive injuries, casting some shadows over the team’s prospects.

“Regarding Take, I also spoke with his younger brother Eishi (at Cerezo Osaka), but there’s still plenty of time. I don’t know the full extent of the injury, but there’s plenty of time before the tournament. Back in the 2018 Russia World Cup, I was injured for the three months leading up to the tournament, yet I was still able to play. I just hope he focuses on properly recovering from the injury without rushing.”

These were the encouraging words from Shinji Kagawa (36), directed at the next-generation ace.

Having worn the number 10 ace jersey in both the 2014 Brazil and 2018 Russia World Cups, Kagawa spoke candidly in late January at Cerezo Osaka’s camp in Miyazaki about Moriyasu Japan. How does he, who has long led the national team, view the current squad?－－

“This off-season, I did individual training in Kobe with Yuto (Nagatomo, FC Tokyo, 39) and Daichi (Kamada, Crystal Palace, 29). Daichi is still on the road to recovery from injury, but he’s unquestionably a key player for the current national team. At Crystal Palace, he’s been a regular starter all season and in great form.

I told him, ‘Make sure you fully recover,’ but he was optimistic, saying, ‘I’ll be back playing soon.’ Daichi has been building up four years of experience, so there’s no need to worry during the tournament. I believe he’ll perform well.”

When first asked about the key players for the national team, Kagawa mentioned these two names. He especially has high expectations for Kamada, who anchors the attack. For the entire squad, the top priority is aligning their preparation to peak for the first World Cup match—a challenge Kagawa knows all too well.

Approaching the First Match Against the Netherlands

For Shinji Kagawa, his first World Cup was the 2014 tournament held in Brazil. At that time, the Japan national team under Alberto Zaccheroni was also called the strongest in history, and great progress was expected.

In the opening match against Côte d’Ivoire, Keisuke Honda (39) scored the first goal, giving Japan a 1–0 lead at halftime. However, two late goals allowed Côte d’Ivoire to come back, handing Japan a painful defeat. Kagawa himself told reporters in the past, “That night was the toughest. I didn’t cry, but I couldn’t sleep at all.”

The shock was immense. Japan failed to win any of the three group matches and was forced to exit the tournament at the group stage, finishing last in the group. This time, they must absolutely avoid repeating the bitter memories from 12 years ago.

“The first match of the World Cup is against the Netherlands, and that will undoubtedly be the key. I hope they get off to a good start. This time, the opening match is against the strongest opponent, so losing is entirely possible. I’m sure Moriyasu and the players have considered various scenarios. But the current Japan team has real quality. Whether they win or lose the first match, I believe they will advance from the group stage.”

Kagawa points out that the group stage is actually the toughest part of the World Cup. Once the team reaches the knockout stage, it becomes a single-elimination format, and anything can happen. “Their goal is the championship, and if fans, the media, and people like me fully believe and support them, that’s the best we can do.”

He also sees the presence of experienced veterans like coach Makoto Hasebe (42) and Yuto Nagatomo in the current Moriyasu Japan as a strong factor.

Currently, Nagatomo’s inclusion is being debated, with opinions divided on whether he should go to the World Cup. Having trained together on the beach, Kagawa asserts, “His core strength and body are the best I’ve ever seen in Japan.” Maintaining such a trained physique at 39 is a testament to his high professional discipline. Kagawa believes having someone like him on the team is of great significance.

Nagatomo himself said at the start of the new season in early January, “I think Shinji hasn’t given up on the World Cup yet.” However, Kagawa quietly stated, “Right now, I’m only thinking about continuing to fight with Cerezo.” He returned to his original club in February 2023 with the ambition to lead Cerezo to a title, but that year the team finished 9th in J1, and in 2024–25 they finished 10th, failing to contend for the championship.

“I think about how to build a team to win. One player alone can’t do it, but experienced veterans must bear the responsibility. I’ll give everything to help the team win.”

Can Moriyasu Japan achieve its long-cherished goal of reaching the top 8 and make history? Including Kagawa and other great predecessors, all of Japan is watching with high hopes for their success.