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Moriyasu to remain Japan coach until Asian Cup before Oiwa takes over

ReutersReuters24 Jul 2026, 05:45
Moriyasu to remain Japan coach until Asian Cup before Oiwa takes over

Hajime Moriyasu will stay on as Japan's head coach through next year's Asian Cup before Under-21 manager Go Oiwa succeeds him after the tournament, the Japan Football Association announced on Thursday.

Hajime Moriyasu will continue as Japan's head coach until next year's Asian Cup ​before Under-21 manager Go Oiwa takes charge, ‌the Japan Football Association (JFA) said on Thursday.

Moriyasu, who has been the country's head coach since 2018, led ​Japan to the round of 32 ​at the World Cup last month, when ⁠they were eliminated after a 2-1 stoppage-time ​loss to Brazil.

Oiwa will take over from Moriyasu ​as the senior team coach after the continental championship ends in February, the JFA said in a ​statement.

"Oiwa... will take over as manager of ​Samurai Blue as they aim for the 2030 FIFA World ‌Cup," ⁠the statement added.

A former Japan international, 54-year-old Oiwa will also continue as the country's U-21 coach as they continue preparing for the ​2028 Los ​Angeles Olympics, ⁠the JFA said.

Moriyasu led Japan to the Asian Cup final in ​2019, where they lost to Qatar. ​At ⁠the 2023 edition, the four-time champions were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Iran.

Japan will begin ⁠their ​Asian Cup Group F ​campaign against Indonesia on January 11.

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