Previous appearances: 12

Best achievement: Runners-up (2021) 

2024 Result: Quarter-finals 

How they qualified: Third in AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2025

Player to watch: Ozu Moreira

Group A fixtures: v Guatemala (May 1), v Belarus (May 3), v Seychelles (May 5)

Having fallen to Oman in the semi-finals in Pattaya, Japan qualified for the global Finals after defeating Saudi Arabia 3-1 in the playoff.

With 2019 Golden Ball winner Ozu Moreira leading their challenge, Japan will be on a mission to better their runners-up finish of 2021. 

Head coach Teruki Tabata has used the time since their Pattaya disappointment to sharpen his unchanged squad for a title assault. 

“We had wanted to enter the World Cup as the champions of Asia which, unfortunately, we couldn't manage,” said Tabata. “So now, we will use the experience and lessons learnt to become world champions. We need to improve technically and there are some gaps that need to be filled. 

“Our goal is to use the gap between the competitions to rectify our mistakes. I think we can be World Cup champions.”

Japan are drawn in Group A with hosts Seychelles, Belarus and Guatemala. Tabata’s team will kick-start their campaign against Guatemala on May 1.