As Nadeshiko Japan announces 23 players squad, Iwabuchi Mana, The three-time World Cup striker and 2011 Champions misses out, it will be captained by fellow champion and influential midfielder Saki Kumagai.
- Head Coach Ikeda named his squads for the Women’s World Cup 2023 on June 13, 2023
- Japan were the winner of Women’s World Cup 2011 and were 2015 runners-up.
- Japan were drawn in group with Spain, Costa Rica and Zambia.
Japan Women’s World Cup was announced on June 13, 2023 ahead of the Women’s World Cup 2023 this summer. Japan has not missed a World Cup since the inaugural edition in 1991 and is set to play their ninth World Cup in July which is going to be co-host by Australia and New Zealand. They are the first and only Asian team to have won the World Cup title, in 2011 (including both men and women), and they have also finished as runners-up once, in 2015.
“We will fight for the top spot with great ambition,” Japan Head coach Futoshi Ikeda said in Japanese. “But the level of (women’s) football in the world is improving very rapidly.”
Saki Kumagai, a legend of Nadeshiko and the lone survivor of their 2011 World Cup winning team, will serve as their captain. Japanese are very well-balanced side with very strong defense and impressive attack too.
The most noteworthy omission from the group that will visit Australia is Mana Iwabuchi. The Arsenal attacker, who played for Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the second half of last season, was also a member of the victorious 2011 team and was vying for a spot in her fourth World Cup.
Ikeda Futoshi, the head coach of Japan, justified his choice, claiming he made his final decision after taking into account a number of considerations. Ikeda was clear that he didn’t leave out Iwabuchi to shock the squad, which is presently ranked 11th in the world.
“First things first, I would never drop a player just to give the team a shot in the arm, I chose these 23 because I felt like they give us the best chance for the World Cup at this particular point in time. I respect all the players. I wish everyone the best and continued improvement as footballers.” Ikeda said at a news conference in Chiba, east of Tokyo, Tuesday, June 13, 2023.
Japan team have perfect combination of young and experienced players, the youngest player in the side is 19-year old Maika Hamano and the most experienced player is captain Saki Kumagai herself. However, The squad also include Manchester City playmaker Yui Hasegawa, Portland Thorns midfield maestro Hina Sugita, Liverpool accomplished midfielder Fuka Nagano and Angel City forward Jun Endo.
Japan Women’s World Cup 2023 Squad
Position | Player | Date of Birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
Goalkeeper | Chika Hirao | December 31, 1996 (age 26) | 4 | 0 | Albirex Niigata |
Goalkeeper | Ayaka Yamashita | September 29, 1995 (age 27) | 55 | 0 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
Goalkeeper | Momoko Tanaka | March 17, 2000 (age 23) | 5 | 0 | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
Defender | Saki Kumagai ( captain) | October 17, 1990 (age 32) | 133 | 3 | Bayern Munich |
Defender | Kiko Seike | August 8, 1996 (age 26) | 7 | 2 | Urawa Reds |
Defender | Hana Takahashi | February 19, 2000 (age 23) | 13 | 1 | Urawa Reds |
Defender | Risa Shimizu | June 15, 1996 (age 27) | 59 | 1 | West Ham United |
Defender | Rion Ishikawa | July 4, 2003 (age 20) | 1 | 0 | Urawa Reds |
Defender | Miyabi Moriya | August 22, 1996 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
Defender | Shiori Miyake | October 13, 1995 (age 27) | 35 | 0 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
Defender | Moeka Minami | December 7, 1998 (age 24) | 31 | 1 | Roma |
Midfielder | Honoka Hayashi | May 19, 1998 (age 25) | 22 | 0 | West Ham United |
Midfielder | Aoba Fujino | January 27, 2004 (age 19) | 7 | 0 | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
vMidfielder | Hikaru Naomoto | March 3, 1994 (age 29) | 31 | 2 | Urawa Reds |
Midfielder | Jun Endo | May 24, 2000 (age 23) | 31 | 3 | Angel City FC |
Midfielder | Yui Hasegawa | January 29, 1997 (age 26) | 63 | 14 | Manchester City |
Midfielder | Fūka Nagano | March 9, 1999 (age 24) | 30 | 2 | Liverpool |
Midfielder | Hina Sugita | January 31, 1997 (age 26) | 35 | 2 | Portland Thorns FC |
Midfielder | Hinata Miyazawa | November 28, 1999 (age 23) | 20 | 4 | MyNavi Sendai |
Forward | Riko Ueki | July 30, 1999 (age 23) | 17 | 8 | Tokyo Verdy Beleza |
Forward | Mina Tanaka | April 28, 1994 (age 29) | 62 | 23 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
Forward | Maika Hamano | May 9, 2004 (age 19) | 4 | 0 | Hammarby |
Forward | Remina Chiba | April 30, 1999 (age 24) | 4 | 2 | JEF United Chiba |
Japan’s Group C Fixtures
22 July
Zambia-Japan (19:00 local time, 03:00 ET, Waikato Stadium)
26 July
Japan-Costa Rica (17:00 local time, 01:00 ET, Dunedin Stadium)
31 July
Japan-Spain (19:00 local time, 03:00 ET, Wellington Regional Stadium)
Which country has won both Mens and Womens FIFA World Cup?
Germany is the only country to have won both FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA Men’s World Cup. They have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup title twice in 2003 & 2007 and were runners-up once.
What is the name of the Japanese women’s soccer team?
Nadeshiko Japan. The official nickname for the national women’s football team of Japan is the Nadeshiko. The pink, frilled carnation known as a “nadeshiko” is thought to represent the ideals of Japanese women. The squad has consistently played quietly throughout the years, but nothing was known about them worldwide until they unexpectedly won the women’s World Cup in 2011.
What is Nadeshiko Japan?
The women’s national football team of Japan is officially nickname as Nadeshiko Japan (なでしこジャパン), which was derived from Yamato nadeshiko. In 2004, a contest was held to select the moniker or nickname.