{"id":33158,"date":"2026-05-11T12:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/japan-awaits-star-forward-mitomas-suitability-for-the-world-cup\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T12:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T12:00:28","slug":"japan-awaits-star-forward-mitomas-suitability-for-the-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/11\/japan-awaits-star-forward-mitomas-suitability-for-the-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan awaits star forward Mitoma’s suitability for the World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"


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BRIGHTON, England (AP) \u2014 Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu<\/span> Concerned about star forward Kaoru Mitoma’s fitness and waiting before naming him world cup members<\/span> on friday.<\/p>\n

Mitoma limped off with an apparent hamstring injury during the second half of Brighton’s 3-0 Premier League win over Wolverhampton on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Mitoma, one of Japan’s standout players at the 2022 World Cup, scored one goal. 1-0 victory over England<\/span> At Wembley Stadium in March.<\/p>\n

His World Cup appearance is in doubt, five weeks before Japan faces the Netherlands on June 14 in Arlington, Texas. <\/p>\n

“I hope it’s a minor injury. The staff told me, ‘It doesn’t seem like it’s a minor injury,'” Coach Moriyasu reportedly told Japanese media about Mitoma on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Brighton manager Fabian H\u00fcrzeler said: “It appeared to be a hamstring injury,” but the club will wait for scans to determine the severity. <\/p>\n

7th place Brighton remain Compete for a spot in the Champions League<\/span> There are only two matches left in the Premier League. England could get a record-tying six entries.<\/p>\n

Japan’s World Cup plans are already missing another key forward Takumi Minamino suffers from ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.<\/span> He will play in Monaco in December.<\/p>\n

Japan will also face Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico on June 20th before returning to Texas to face Sweden on June 25th. The top two teams in Group F will advance to the Round of 32, with the possibility of a third-place team also joining them.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Soccer: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/soccer<\/span> And the World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/fifa-world-cup<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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