Japan
Group:
E
First Match:
November 23, 2022, 9 PM SGT
Stadium:
Khalifa International Stadium
Despite a minor glitch in the opening matches of the qualifications, in which they failed 2 of their first 3 games, Japan qualified for their 7th straight World Cup with a match to spare in the Asian part of qualifying.
Last time in Russia, they made it all the way to the Round of 16, but they were ousted by Belgium after letting a two-goal advantage slip and conceding 3 times in the final 20 minutes.
This was their joint-farthest World Cup run, but advancing from Group B, where European powerhouses Spain and Germany await, may prove to be an uphill battle.
Key Player: Takumi Minamino (Monaco)
In the summer, former Liverpool attacker Minamino moved to Monaco after winning three trophies in his two and a half years with the Reds. Minamino scored 10 goals in 15 matches throughout qualification, making him the team's primary source of inspiration as they attempted to advance out of a brutal group.