FIFA U-17 World Cup
Despite being perennial qualifiers, success has eluded the East Asian side but with a well rounded squad, head coach Nozomi Hiroyama will be confident of steering Japan into the knockout stage and beyond.
Factfile
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Quarter-finalists (1993, 2011)
2023 record: Round of 16
How they got there: AFC U-17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 quarter-finalists
Head coach: Nozomi Hiroyama
Fun fact: Japan will be making a fourth consecutive appearance in the Finals
Group B Fixtures: v Morocco (Nov 3), v New Caledonia (Nov 6), v Portugal (Nov 9)
Previous appearances: 10
Best finish: Quarter-finalists (1993, 2011)
2023 record: Round of 16
How they got there: AFC U-17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 quarter-finalists
Head coach: Nozomi Hiroyama
Fun fact: Japan will be making a fourth consecutive appearance in the Finals
Group B Fixtures: v Morocco (Nov 3), v New Caledonia (Nov 6), v Portugal (Nov 9)
The challenge, on paper, looks navigable with Japan opening their Group B campaign against Morocco, who will only be making their third appearance in the Finals but were quarter-finalists in the previous edition.
New Caledonia will be up next, with the Oceania side having qualified for back-to-back Finals for the first time and seeking to advance to the next stage also for the first time.
Victories for Japan in their first two matches will set them up nicely for Portugal who - despite their stature in world football and having finished third in the 1989 edition - are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2003.
New Caledonia will be up next, with the Oceania side having qualified for back-to-back Finals for the first time and seeking to advance to the next stage also for the first time.
Victories for Japan in their first two matches will set them up nicely for Portugal who - despite their stature in world football and having finished third in the 1989 edition - are returning to the Finals for the first time since 2003.
While Japan's bid for the AFC U17 Asian Cup™ Saudi Arabia 2025 ended at the quarter-final stage, they have a talent-laden squad and leading their charge will be Minato Yoshida.
Yoshida starred at the AFC U17 Asian Cup, scoring three goals in four games, including a decisive brace against UAE to secure Japan’s U-17 World Cup spot.
The forward made his Kashima Antlers debut aged just 16 years and nine months in April, becoming the youngest player ever to represent the club.
Yoshida starred at the AFC U17 Asian Cup, scoring three goals in four games, including a decisive brace against UAE to secure Japan’s U-17 World Cup spot.
The forward made his Kashima Antlers debut aged just 16 years and nine months in April, becoming the youngest player ever to represent the club.
