Japan’s Zion Suzuki starts as goalkeeper at World Cup 2026

Zion Suzuki, a 23‑year‑old goalkeeper, was born in Newark, New York to a Japanese mother and a Ghanaian father. He grew up in Urawa, Japan, progressed through the youth ranks of Urawa Red Diamonds and made his professional debut with the club before moving to Belgium and then to Parma in Italy’s Serie A.

Suzuki chose to represent Japan internationally, earning his first senior cap in 2022 and accumulating more than 20 appearances. He was selected by manager Hajime Moriyasu to start in Japan’s group‑stage match against the Netherlands at the FIFA World Cup 2026, helping the Samurai Blue secure a 2‑2 draw.

His multicultural background highlights the growing trend of players with dual nationalities representing nations other than their birth country, and his performances are seen as a key element of Japan’s hopes to advance in the tournament.