Japan Preview: How on-field partnerships are key to unlocking creativity and Asian Cup success
Japan’s 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign begins on Wednesday, where they hope to redefine themselves as an impact team with a dominant presence on the global women’s footballing stage.
With 16 squad members who play their domestic football in England, alongside others who compete in the USA, Germany and Japan, the international squad contains a high level of experience and global prowess. The Barclays Women’s Super League is recognised as one of the most competitive domestic leagues in women’s football, which gives Japan an edge over other competing nations.
In the current FIFA Women’s World Rankings, Japan remains in eighth place, meaning they are the highest ranked side in this year’s competition. With diligent preparations and tactical execution, they stand in good stead to progress through the Asian Cup, whilst securing their place in the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year.
Club partnerships boosting international success
In a side full of talented individuals, there are several players who could prove pivotal in Japan’s success due their partnerships and presence on the pitch. For example, Manchester City midfield duo, Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino are two players who fuse their footballing intelligence with intensity and attacking threat on the pitch. So far, they have played a consistent role in City’s title ambition in the WSL and aim to continue this linkup in the Asian Cup.
Another pairing at club level is Tottenham Hotspur’s Tõko Koga and Maika Hamano. Having recently signed Hamano on loan for Chelsea, she has brought attacking intuition and an on-field partnership with Koga that brings fluidity and creativity to Spurs. In their push for a UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification spot, the Japanese duo has unlocked a new intensity on the pitch and emerged as vital in Martin Ho’s lineup.
Across the pond, both Utah Royals’ Miyabi Moriya and Mina Tanaka have been selected for the Asian Cup squad. In the National Women’s Soccer League, Tanaka has impressed as a threatening forward with darting movement. Moriya signed with Utah Royals ahead of the upcoming season, and looks forward to making her debut alongside her international teammate. The Japanese teammates can only strengthen their chemistry for both club and country, with diligence and a clinical edge both in defence and attack, bolstering versatility and ambition.
Group stage outline
In the Group Stage of the Asian Cup, Japan will face Chinese Taipei, India and Vietnam. Without too much prior knowledge of their opponents, Japan will rely on their team preparations and ability to adapt to the tempo and tactical challenges throughout each fixture to push into the quarter finals.
With a Women’s World Cup qualification place at stake, the Japanese side will continue to graft hard and remind why they have such a strong impact on the global women’s football stage.
Match schedule:
Wednesday 4 March – Japan v Chinese Taipei (05:00 BST)
Saturday 7 March – Japan v India (11:00 BST)
Tuesday 10 March – Japan v Vietnam (09:00 BST)
The head coach’s winning mentality
For the first time in Japan’s footballing history, they have employed a head coach from outside the nation. Just over a year ago, Dane Nils Nielsen took charge, following the departure of Futoshi Ikeda.
Having worked as Manchester City’s first Director of Women’s Football, he brings strong experience, as well as a good relationship with Hasegawa and Fujino; this became an advantage as he took on this new role twelve months ago.
Heading into this year’s Asian Cup as favourites, Nielsen spoke about his ambitions with the team and staying grounded throughout the competition:
“There are several other teams that will be capable of winning the tournament but, of course, we are one of them… It is not a tournament that has been easy to win for Japan historically.
We want to make new history. This is why we cannot be happy until we have the final prize because we have a team that can win it.”
Japan’s 2026 campaign begins on Wednesday, and it is worth observing whether these domestic partnerships will contribute to their success and set them aside other nations, becoming front runners in this highly anticipated tournament.