CHIBA, Japan - The Japan Football Association on Wednesday named a 28-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Brazil and Paraguay in Singapore, with Monaco attacker Takumi Minamino set to make his return after missing this year's World Cup through injury.
The 31-year-old playmaker returned to action for Monaco last month after rehabilitating a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament that kept him off the pitch for 10 months, including the 2026 World Cup in North America, where the Samurai Blue lost to Brazil in the first knockout round.
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu gave forward Shio Fukuda, 22, his first senior callup after a strong start to the season for German second-division outfit Karlsruher.
Lille striker Ayase Ueda has been left out of the squad as he deals with a foot injury, while Coventry City's Tatsuhiro Sakamoto has been named along with Southampton's Kuryu Matsuki, who scored on debut for the Samurai Blue during a 3-1 win over Uruguay on Sept. 24.
Mainstays including Aston Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, Real Sociedad playmaker Takefusa Kubo and Genk winger Junya Ito have also been selected.
Hoffenheim defender Koki Machida is also back in the squad after being sidelined for 13 months due to the same injury -- a left ACL rupture -- as Minamino's.
"Minamino and Machida returned to the pitch from what could have been career-ending injuries, and I'm really happy to see them being able to play at their fullest," Moriyasu said.
The 58-year-old tactician also expressed high hopes for Sakamoto, who has impressed for newly promoted Coventry in the English Premier League.
"(Sakamoto) can be a huge asset for us at the next World Cup should he maintain his condition and add experience," Moriyasu said. "He took on the challenge to be at the stage (the Premier League), where players should aspire to be and made it...I'm really looking forward to seeing his performance."
Neither Moriyasu nor JFA Technical Director Masakuni Yamamoto gave a clear answer regarding the manager's future following the announcement that the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by one year.
Moriyasu had been expected to step down after the competition, originally scheduled to kick off in January 2027, with current Japan under-21 manager Go Oiwa stepping into the senior team role.
Japan will play Brazil on Nov. 14 and Paraguay three days later at Singapore's National Stadium.
