Japan Recall Captain Wataru Endo for November Friendlies

Japan have announced their squad for the November international break, with captain Wataru Endo returning to the national team after missing last month’s historic 3–2 victory over Brazil due to injury.

The Liverpool midfielder is set to lead the Samurai Blue in two friendly matches:

• vs Ghana on 14 November

• vs Bolivia on 18 November at Tokyo National Stadium

Japan’s comeback win against Brazil — the first in the country’s football history — has strengthened belief within Hajime Moriyasu’s squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In October, Japan also came from behind to draw 2–2 against Paraguay, showing resilience and momentum entering this international window.

“We want to show the same unity, intensity and belief in front of our home supporters,” Moriyasu said after announcing the squad list.

Kaoru Mitoma remains sidelined due to injury, while Feyenoord striker Ayase Ueda, currently the top scorer in the Eredivisie with 13 goals, keeps his place after scoring the winner against Brazil.

Three players have received a first call-up:

• Sota Kitano (Red Bull Salzburg)

• Leo Bryn Kokubo (Sint-Truiden)

• Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden)

Japan Squad – November 2025

Goalkeepers:
Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers), Leo Bryn Kokubo (Sint-Truiden), Zion Suzuki (Parma)

Defenders:
Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden), Kou Itakura (Ajax), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), Tomoya Ando (Avispa Fukuoka), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen)

Midfielders & Forwards:
Wataru Endo (Liverpool), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), Daizen Maeda (Celtic), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United), Shuto Machino (Gladbach), Kaito Nakamura (Reims), Kaishu Sano (Mainz), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad), Joel Chima Fujita (St. Pauli), Sota Kitano (Salzburg), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden), Ryunosuke Sato (Fagiano Okayama)