Hajime Moriyasu was expected to confirm on Thursday that he will remain as head coach of Japan’s men’s football team, but instead said he needed time to relax and watch the World Cup results before deciding his future.
«I think I’ll take a break every now and then and think carefully about the tournament,» Moriyasu told a news conference attended by Japan Football Association officials. “That is all that has been decided so far.” However, he was optimistic about the future of the sport in the country.
“Japanese football, which has been built up throughout history, is more than capable of holding its own on the world stage,” said Moriyasu. “I am convinced that if we continue this growth, we can certainly become world champions.” Moriyasu guided his team to the round of 16 of the World Cup before losing 2-1 to five-time champions Brazil this week.
Japan has made consistent progress over the past two decades but has yet to win a match in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Moriyasu took over after the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He guided Japan to the knockout stages in the 2022 edition in Qatar, losing to Croatia on penalties.
READ ALSO:Brazil’s World Cup defeat shows Japan is closing the gap with the top teams, says coach Moriyasu
Japanese FA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto also told the press conference that the association needed time for a debriefing. He had previously suggested to local media that the JFA wanted Moriyasu to stay on.
Some reports suggest he will be given a one-year extension for the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in early 2027. Qatar are the defending champions and Japan will be among the favorites to win the continent’s top football prize.
Twenty-four teams have already qualified for the event. Japan plays in group F with Indonesia, Qatar and Thailand.
Published on July 2, 2026
