The Japan Socceroo national team candidate squad is entering its third selection block under Head Coach Keller Costa, targeting gold at the upcoming 2027 international tournament. The team announced its regional roster structure and upcoming training dates, prioritizing localized player evaluations across Japan’s regional leagues.
Regional Selection Focus for the Third Pool
Head Coach Keller Costa structured the third selection block around regional league standouts to build continuous depth for the national squad. During July, selectors evaluated players from the Kansai and東海 Leagues, followed by Kanto League standouts and other regions in August. The current September phase zeroes in on talent from the Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Okinawa Leagues.
This localized recruitment strategy culminates in two key training and match dates:
- September 23, 2026 (Wednesday, Holiday): Training session from 12:00 to 15:00 at Football 7 Park Hiroshima (located at Hiroshima Korean Elementary and Middle School).
- October 12, 2026 (Monday, Holiday): Regional showdown match from 12:00 to 15:00 at J-Society Football Park Tama.
The selected roster features a mix of veteran candidates and first-time call-ups representing clubs from Fukuoka, Hiroshima, and Hakata.
Full September 2026 Candidate Roster
The Japan Socceroo national team candidate roster for the September 23 session at Football 7 Park Hiroshima includes the following players, with an asterisk denoting first-time selections for 2026:
Goalkeepers (GK)
- Fukaya Keisuke (Fukuoka City 24)
- Nakamoto Masaaki (FC Lisem Society)
- Tomoyose Yuki (FC Regate) — *First-time selection
Field Players (FP)
- Fujimura Kaito (FC Nirvana)
- Nishimoto Yousei (Mighty FC)
- Moriyasu Riku (FC Lisem Society)
- Miura Shuya (AC Hakata 2020) — *First-time selection
- Nishijima Yuya (AC Hakata 2020) — *First-time selection
- Fujino Kyoya (Seven Devils) — *First-time selection
- Sasaki Amon (AC Hakata 2020) — *First-time selection
- Suenaga Takumi (Fukuoka City 24)
- Sumida Wataru (Fukuyama City Socceroo Club) — *First-time selection
- Otaka Seiya (FC Nirvana) — *First-time selection
- Fukumaru Shori (FC Nirvana) — *First-time selection
- Hiwatari Kotaro (FC Nirvana) — *First-time selection
- Himeno Retsuya (Seven Devils) — *First-time selection
- Sekiguchi Sota (FC Lisem Society) — *First-time selection
- Katsura Rikuto (FC Lisem Society) — *First-time selection
- Kido Koki (Fukuoka City 24) — *First-time selection
- Hayashi Hiroto (Mighty FC) — *First-time selection
Road to the 2027 World Tournament
The Socceroo national team program maintains ongoing training camps and regional fixtures to strengthen player cohesion ahead of the 2027 global competition. Team organizers noted that maintaining a rigorous preparation schedule requires substantial operational funding, and management continues to seek public donations and community sponsorships to support the squad’s push for a world championship title.
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