Japan Women’s World Cup 2023 Squad : Coach Futoshi Ikeda Has Revealed his 23-Player Squad

Japan Women's World Cup 2023 Squad

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.

  • 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

PositionPlayerDate of Birth (age)CapsGoalsClub
GoalkeeperChika HiraoDecember 31, 1996 (age 26)40Albirex Niigata
GoalkeeperAyaka YamashitaSeptember 29, 1995 (age 27)550INAC Kobe Leonessa
GoalkeeperMomoko TanakaMarch 17, 2000 (age 23)50Tokyo Verdy Beleza
DefenderSaki Kumagai ( captain)October 17, 1990 (age 32)1333Bayern Munich
DefenderKiko SeikeAugust 8, 1996 (age 26)72Urawa Reds
DefenderHana TakahashiFebruary 19, 2000 (age 23)131Urawa Reds
DefenderRisa ShimizuJune 15, 1996 (age 27)591West Ham United
DefenderRion IshikawaJuly 4, 2003 (age 20)10Urawa Reds
DefenderMiyabi MoriyaAugust 22, 1996 (age 26)00INAC Kobe Leonessa
DefenderShiori MiyakeOctober 13, 1995 (age 27)350INAC Kobe Leonessa
DefenderMoeka MinamiDecember 7, 1998 (age 24)311Roma
MidfielderHonoka HayashiMay 19, 1998 (age 25)220West Ham United
MidfielderAoba FujinoJanuary 27, 2004 (age 19)70Tokyo Verdy Beleza
vMidfielderHikaru NaomotoMarch 3, 1994 (age 29)312Urawa Reds
MidfielderJun EndoMay 24, 2000 (age 23)313Angel City FC
MidfielderYui HasegawaJanuary 29, 1997 (age 26)6314Manchester City
MidfielderFūka NaganoMarch 9, 1999 (age 24)302Liverpool
MidfielderHina SugitaJanuary 31, 1997 (age 26)352Portland Thorns FC
MidfielderHinata MiyazawaNovember 28, 1999 (age 23)204MyNavi Sendai
ForwardRiko UekiJuly 30, 1999 (age 23)178Tokyo Verdy Beleza
ForwardMina TanakaApril 28, 1994 (age 29)6223INAC Kobe Leonessa
ForwardMaika HamanoMay 9, 2004 (age 19)40Hammarby
ForwardRemina ChibaApril 30, 1999 (age 24)42JEF 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.

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