Opinions, analysis and commentary
Japan arrives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup without the two players who made their attack function. Takumi Minamino tore the ACL in his left knee in late December 2025. Kaoru Mitoma, 28 years old, 31 caps, 9 international goals, the man who scored the winner against England in March 2026 and was the architect of Japan’s wins over Germany and Spain at Qatar 2022, suffered a hamstring injury days before the squad announcement and was ruled out. One player now carries what those two left behind. Everything Japan does in attack runs through Ayase Ueda.
Hajime Moriyasu’s eyes welled with tears at the Mitoma announcement. “It’s a huge blow to us,” he said, and the understatement was obvious to anyone who had watched Japan’s attacking shape over the previous two years. Mitoma wasn’t just a wide option. He was a threat that forced defensive structures to reorganise entirely: his pace, his dribbling, and his ability to manufacture danger from nothing gave Japan an unpredictability that no other player in the squad replicates.
Ueda was Japan’s most reliable centre-forward. Now he is their only world-class attacking reference point, and the tactical demands on him have changed completely. Without Mitoma pulling defenders wide and Minamino offering movement from deep, opposing back lines can organise around Ueda alone.
Twenty-five goals in 31 Eredivisie appearances. A rate of 0.89 goals per 90 minutes. The Eredivisie’s top scorer in 2025-26. Across all competitions for Feyenoord, 26 goals in 40 matches, including appearances in the Europa League, where the opposition is categorically not weak. Ueda also contributed 8 goals in 9 Asian World Cup qualifying appearances this season.
His career path, Kashima Antlers to Cercle Brugge to Feyenoord, has produced a consistent upward curve, and 2025-26 is his peak. At 27, he is not developing. He is the finished product: a centre-forward who holds the ball under pressure, makes intelligent runs in behind, and finishes from limited chances when games tighten in the middle of tournaments.
With Mitoma and Minamino gone, the gap between Ueda and Japan’s next-best attacking threat is significant.
| Player | Club | Goals 2025-26 | Caps | Intl. Goals |
| Ayase Ueda | Feyenoord | 25 (Eredivisie) | 39 | 16 |
| Kaoru Mitoma | Brighton | 3 (PL, injured) | 31 | 9 |
| Takefusa Kubo | Real Sociedad | 2 (La Liga) | 48 | 7 |
Ueda leads Japan’s active squad in international goals with 16 in 39 caps. Kubo, operating from the right flank with 48 caps and 7 international goals, is a creator rather than a finisher. His Copa del Rey win with Real Sociedad in 2025-26 underlines his quality, but his profile does not replace what Mitoma provided.
Also read:- How Close Is Son Heung-min to Breaking South Korea’s All-Time Scoring Record at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Real Sociedad’s Kubo is a dribbler and chance-creator who draws fouls and plays line-splitting passes, but he is not the wide destroyer Mitoma was. Japan’s 3-4-3 system will likely shift toward more central combination play, Kubo drifting infield to link with Ueda, Daichi Kamada, and Wataru Endo, providing ball-carrying depth from midfield. The partnership must generate a different kind of danger: built on positional intelligence and interplay rather than high-speed wide isolation.
Japan’s Group F draws are demanding. They open against the Netherlands on June 14 in Arlington, Texas, ranked 7th, their toughest opponent, then face Tunisia on June 20 in Monterrey (ranked 44th) and Sweden on June 25 in Arlington (ranked 38th). Japan is ranked 18th by FIFA, and recent friendly wins over Brazil and England prove they can compete with higher-ranked sides. The expanded format, advancing the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams, means Japan doesn’t need to win the group.
Tunisia and Sweden are within Japan’s reach. The Netherlands fixture will test everything. Ueda, playing against European defenders he has faced regularly for Feyenoord, is the player Moriyasu must build around in every match. The Ayase Ueda Japan World Cup 2026 striker key player question resolves itself simply: his goals are not the only factor in Japan’s tournament. They are the factor.
Does Ueda step into the void Mitoma left and carry Japan to the knockout stage, or does the weight of expectation prove too much for one striker to carry alone? Tell us your prediction in the comments.
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FAQs
Who is Ayase Ueda, and why is he Japan’s most important striker?
Ueda is Japan’s 27-year-old Feyenoord striker and leading active scorer with 16 goals in 39 caps, now their sole world-class attacking option after Mitoma and Minamino were ruled out. He finished as the 2025-26 Eredivisie top scorer with 25 goals in 31 appearances.
How many goals did Ayase Ueda score for Feyenoord this season?
Ueda scored 25 goals in 31 Eredivisie appearances in 2025-26, finishing as the Dutch league’s top scorer. Across all Feyenoord competitions, he scored 26 goals in 40 matches.
Why is Kaoru Mitoma missing from Japan’s squad?
Mitoma suffered a hamstring injury in Brighton’s win over Wolves in May 2026 and was ruled out before the squad announcement. Coach Moriyasu confirmed no recovery window existed in time for the tournament.
Which group is Japan in at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Japan is in Group F with the Netherlands (June 14, Arlington), Tunisia (June 20, Monterrey), and Sweden (June 25, Arlington). The Netherlands is ranked 7th; Tunisia and Sweden are 44th and 38th.
Who leads Japan’s attack without Mitoma and Minamino?
Japan’s attack is led by Ueda (Feyenoord), supported by Kubo (Real Sociedad), Endo (Liverpool), and Kamada (Crystal Palace). Ueda is the central figure as Japan’s primary scorer with both injured absentees unavailable.
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