Japan national team changes coach after victory over England
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
The Japan Football Association (JFA) has stunned fans with a radical change of direction.
Details: It has been officially announced that legendary Shunsuke Nakamura has been appointed as the new head coach of the national team. This decision came as a bolt from the blue, especially considering previous manager Hajime Moriyasu had just led the Blue Samurai to impressive victories over England and Scotland in March.
Despite these successes against top European sides, the federation has decided to terminate Moriyasu's contract, opting for a bold path of reform.
Nakamura's appointment is a massive gamble and a bet on a legendary figure. The former Celtic and Espanyol free-kick maestro does not have significant experience as a head coach at the top level, but the JFA believes his charisma and footballing intelligence can spark the team's progress ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Notably, Japan will face the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden in their World Cup group.
Reminder: During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, travel across the United States will become eight times more expensive.
