Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

Japan is Asia’s best shot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Expectations have never been higher

This is the first Asian side entering a World Cup where success and failure will be judged not by group-stage survival or an upset, but by how far they progress in the knockouts.

Asia’s FIFA World Cup dreams have always been short-lived. The best performance of an Asian team remains South Korea’s run to the semi-finals in 2002, where they eventually lost 1-0 to Germany. More than two decades later, Asia arrives at another World Cup with hope. In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, those hopes rest largely on Japan.

Japan enters the tournament carrying a burden no Asian nation has previously borne. Asian teams lacked tactical awareness and individual names. It was perceived as nations which lack homegrown youth development, grassroots coaching, and club-level competitiveness compared to European standards.  

But this is the first Asian side entering a World Cup where success and failure will be judged not by group-stage survival or a famous upset, but by how far they progress in the knockout rounds.

Japan arrives in this tournament with expectations beyond just “doing well” or reaching the Round of 16. They are a team that can redefine what success for Asia looks like, the product of a disciplined and dedicated process that began more than three decades ago.

For Japan, the venture to place itself on the pedestal of other top footballing nations began in 1991. Structural investment into football began with the formation of the Japan Professional Football League (J League), which officially kicked off in 1993. 

In 1996, the Japan Football Association (JFA) introduced an ambitious century-long master plan.........

© ThePrint