Japan Offers Renewal to Moriyasu Before Brazil Clash

Japanese press reports revealed that the Japan Football Association has offered coach Hajime Moriyasu a contract renewal to begin a third term leading the national team, ahead of the anticipated match against Brazil in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup.

If he agrees, his tenure with the "Blue Samurai" could extend to about 12 years, since he took on the role following the 2018 World Cup after being part of the assistant coaching staff.

This move comes after the significant successes achieved by Moriyasu with the Japanese national team, as he led the team to achieve historic accomplishments in the 2022 World Cup, before continuing to develop the team and leading it to the knockout stages in the 2026 edition, solidifying Japan's position as one of the strongest emerging Asian and global teams.

Despite the Japanese Football Association's strong desire to maintain the stability of the technical project and continue with Moriyasu, reports indicate that the 57-year-old coach is considering a future plan to pursue a coaching experience outside Japan, after spending many years developing the national team and achieving remarkable results on the international stage.

Moriyasu is currently preparing to lead Japan in a tough match against Brazil in the Round of 32 of the World Cup, a meeting of special significance after the Japanese team achieved its first-ever victory over Brazil in a friendly match held in October 2025.