OFFICIAL: Japan National Team Gets New Coach After 2027 Asian Cup

The Japan Football Association (JFA) has officially confirmed that Hajime Moriyasu will remain in charge of the national team through the 2027 Asian Cup, after which the coaching reins will be passed to Go Oiwa, the current head coach of Japan's U21 side.

The Japan Football Association (JFA) has officially confirmed the future of coach Hajime Moriyasu following a meeting held on July 23. According to the announcement on the JFA's official website, the 57-year-old tactician will continue to guide the national team through the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia before stepping down from his role as head coach.

This information also puts an end to the speculation surrounding the hot seat of the Japan national team after they were eliminated in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. In that tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Japan, under the guidance of coach Moriyasu, lost 1-2 to Brazil, concluding a campaign that was widely regarded as encouraging.

According to the JFA's decision, after the 2027 Asian Cup concludes, coach Go Oiwa will officially take over the Japan national team with the aim of targeting the 2030 World Cup. Notably, Oiwa will also serve as the head coach of the Japan U21 team, which is preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

The 2027 Asian Cup will take place from January 7 to February 5, 2027, in Saudi Arabia. Japan is placed in Group F alongside Indonesia, Qatar, and Thailand, and is considered one of the top contenders for the championship title.

Coach Hajime Moriyasu began his tenure as head coach of the Japan national team in 2018 after the World Cup in Russia. Over nearly a decade at the helm, he has helped the "Samurai Blue" consistently qualify for major tournaments and maintain a leading position in Asia.

At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Japan reached the Round of 16 before being eliminated on penalties by Croatia. At the 2026 World Cup, the team once again advanced past the group stage but could not pull off an upset against Brazil.

According to JFA statistics, coach Moriyasu has led the Japan national team for a total of 108 matches, achieving 74 wins, 16 draws, and 18 losses. He was also awarded the AFC Men's Coach of the Year for 2022 at the AFC Annual Awards 2023.

Meanwhile, his successor Go Oiwa is no stranger to Japanese football. The former central defender, born in 1972, earned three caps for the national team before transitioning into coaching.

He previously managed Kashima Antlers from 2017 to 2019, and later took on various roles within the JFA's development system. Since 2022, Go Oiwa has served as the head coach of the Japan Olympic team and led the U23 side to victory at the 2024 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Qatar. In 2026, he continued to guide the U23 team to triumph at the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, further proving his capabilities at the youth level.

Not only has he achieved impressive results, but Go Oiwa has also been twice named AFC Men's Coach of the Year in 2018 and 2024. These successes have earned him the trust of the JFA to carry on the legacy of coach Moriyasu.