Takumi Minamino will take on a mentor role for Japan's 2026 World Cup campaign despite being sidelined by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained in December 2025. [1, 2, 3]
The 31-year-old midfielder suffered a rupture of the ACL in his left knee while playing for AS Monaco, ruling him out of active play for six to nine months, effectively ending his World Cup participation on the field. [1, 2, 3] Despite this, Minamino remains part of the national team setup, contributing off the pitch through guidance and experience. [1, 2]
Minamino has made 73 appearances and scored 26 goals for Japan, known as the Samurai Blue, and was a key figure in their qualification campaign for the World Cup. [1, 2, 3] He said, "Before anything, I'm happy I could join this group. Lots of people helped me get here and I'm hoping to give my maximum support to the team by offering my personal experience and coming up with my own approach." [1] Reflecting on his injury, he added, "As expected, the first few weeks were tough. Injuries are part and parcel of being an athlete, but the timing of it and, of course, there was that emotion I had for this World Cup." [1]
Japan will appear at their eighth consecutive World Cup finals in 2026. [1, 2] The team is drawn in Group F, alongside the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. [1, 2] The Samurai Blue open their campaign on June 14 at Dallas Stadium in Texas against the Netherlands. [1, 2]
Former Japan captain Maya Yoshida is also part of the squad in a support role, adding further experience to the off-field leadership. [1, 2] Meanwhile, Australia's appointment of forward Martin Boyle as an "Official Vibes Manager" highlights a growing trend of including players in morale-boosting roles during tournaments. [1, 2]
Japan’s first match against the Netherlands on June 14 will mark the official start of their World Cup efforts.
