VIENNA, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Japanese national team director Masakuni Yamamoto said players playing in top-flight leagues is the key factor to a strong national team.
The Japan national team announced a 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup on Friday, including 23 players who play in European leagues.
"Regardless of which country or league they play in, we believe that competing on a daily basis in higher-level, higher-intensity environments is essential for the national team to be able to compete with the top teams in the world," said Yamamoto in a recent written interview with Xinhua.
"We believe that exposure to different cultures and ways of thinking is important for progress, and that active personnel exchange should be encouraged," said he, who is also technical director of the Japanese Football Association (JFA).
According to public information, Japanese players often begin their European careers not in the top five leagues or elite clubs, but at smaller clubs that can serve as a springboard.
Yamamoto acknowledged that some European clubs owned by Japanese individuals or companies provide more accessible opportunities for Japanese players. ■
