Japan Football Association Extends Moriyasu Tenure and Names Oiwa Successor for 2030 World Cup Cycle

The Japan Football Association (JFA) announced on 23 July 2026 that head coach Hajime Moriyasu will remain in charge of the men’s national team until the end of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia. After that tournament, Go Oiwa – the current U‑21 coach who led the youth side to Olympic qualification – will assume the Samurai Blue senior role from March 2027 and will stay through the 2030 FIFA World Cup cycle while continuing to oversee the U‑21 squad for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Moriyasu, who has led Japan since 2018, guided the team at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, reaching the round of 16 in 2026 before a 2‑1 extra‑time loss to Brazil. He has also overseen two AFC Asian Cup finals appearances. The JFA’s board approved a short six‑month contract extension for Moriyasu, describing it as a bridge to the next phase. Oiwa, 54, is a former Kashima Antlers manager and has been the U‑21 head coach since 2021, winning the AFC U‑23 Asian Cup twice and securing a spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics. His appointment is intended to provide continuity and develop young talent for the senior team’s future World Cup ambitions.