Moriyasu to stay on as Japan boss through 2027 Asian Cup

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Japan have confirmed coach Hajime Moriyasu will stay on in his role until the end of the 2027 Asian Cup, before being replaced by Under-21s boss Go Oiwa.

Moriyasu has overseen the national team since 2017, winning 74 of his 108 matches at the helm (D18 L16).

He has not won any major trophies with the Samurai Blue, though they did lose in the 2019 Asian Cup final to Qatar.

Moriyasu will have the chance to leave on a high note at next year’s Asian Cup. Japan have won the tournament more often than any other nation (four titles).

Japan released a statement which read: “The Japan Football Association (JFA) has decided that Hajime Moriyasu will continue to serve as the manager of Samurai Blue (Japan national team).

“Moriyasu will remain in charge until the end of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 tournament.

“Following the tournament, U-21 Japan national team coach Go Oiwa will take over as coach of Samurai Blue, who are aiming for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while simultaneously continuing in his role as coach of the U-21 Japan national team, who are aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”

— サッカー日本代表 🇯🇵 (@jfa_samuraiblue) July 23, 2026

At this year’s World Cup, Japan lost 2-1 in the round of 32 against Brazil after Gabriel Martinelli scored a 95th-minute winner.

Japan are still yet to progress from a knockout stage game at the World Cup, with that their fifth attempt; they have scored the opening goal on each of the last three occasions despite eventually exiting.

The Samurai Blue have played the most knockout matches in the competition without ever winning (five).

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