Japan - World Cup Profile
How will Japan fare in Qatar?
Road to Qatar 2022
Japan booked their place at the World Cup in dramatic style with a game to spare, as two late goals from substitute Kaoru Mitoma earned a memorable 2-0 away victory in Sydney to secure second place ahead of the Socceroos.
Japan have been a World Cup ever-present since 1998, and manager Hajime Moriyasu will be aiming to guide the nation past their previous best Round of 16 finish.
History at the World Cup
1998 - Group stage
2002 - Round of 16
2006 - Group stage
2010 - Round of 16
2014 - Group stage
2018 - Round of 16
Player to watch
Wataru Endo, 29, is the gumshield-wearing midfield lynchpin who holds Japan together. A non-playing member of the squad in 2018, Endo won the AFC Champions League with Urawa Red Diamonds before moving to Europe. He played for Sint-Truiden in Belgium and then joined Stuttgart, the side he now captains and for whom he scored the stoppage-time goal that kept them in the Bundesliga on the final day of last season.
Group fixtures
November 23: Germany v Japan
November 27: Japan v Costa Rica
December 1: Japan v Spain
