Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Samurai Blue compete in Group F at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. AFC qualifier.
Japan's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Sitting at Seed #22, Japan are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
Group F is one of the tightest groups in the draw — the FIFA-rank spread between top and bottom is only 3 places. Every group fixture has meaningful implications for advancement.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Japan: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group F is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Japan match of the World Cup is scheduled for Sunday, June 14 against Netherlands at AT&T Stadium.
Group F draw analysis
Draw sloting, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team Japan face in Group F.
| Team | Draw slot | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (this page) | #22 | AFC |
| Netherlands | #21 | UEFA |
| Sweden | #23 | UEFA |
| Tunisia | #24 | CAF |
Japan 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Japan World Cup history
Japan have appeared at 0 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains To be confirmed. Across the last five tournaments they recorded: To be confirmed.
Get Japan data via API
// Fetch Japan World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=japan',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Japan in at the 2026 World Cup?
Japan is in Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, Tunisia. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group F is #23.
Who is Japan's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
To be confirmed manages Japan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with To be confirmed as captain.
What is Japan's best World Cup finish?
Japan's best FIFA World Cup finish is To be confirmed. They have appeared in 0 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: To be confirmed.
Who are Japan's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain To be confirmed leads a squad whose standout names include . The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Japan qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
AFC qualifier. They came through the AFC qualifying pathway.
What is Japan's current Draw sloting?
Japan are seeded #22 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Sitting at Seed #22, Japan are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
What are Japan's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Group F is one of the tightest groups in the draw — the FIFA-rank spread between top and bottom is only 3 places. Every group fixture has meaningful implications for advancement. Sitting at Seed #22, Japan are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
How can I get Japan fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Japan World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Japan going back to their first tournament.
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