Hajime Moriyasu did not confirm his future as Japan men’s national team coach at a news conference in TOKYO, saying instead that he needed time away from the immediate pressure of the World Cup before making a decision.
Moriyasu had been expected to say he would remain in charge, with Japan Football Association officials also present. He told reporters he planned to take a short break and then properly review Japan’s tournament before settling what comes next.
The coach still spoke confidently about the direction of Japanese soccer. Moriyasu said the sport in Japan, built over time, has shown it can compete on the World stage, and he added that continued growth could eventually put Japan in position to become World champions.
Japan’s latest World Cup run ended in the round of 32 with a 2-1 loss to Brazil. The defeat continued a familiar pattern for Japan, which has made steady progress across recent tournaments but has still not won a knockout-stage match at the World Cup.
Moriyasu took over after the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He also led Japan at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team reached the knockout stage before losing to Croatia on penalties.
Japan FA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto said the JFA also needed time for a debrief. Miyamoto had earlier indicated to local media that the association wanted Moriyasu to stay, while some reports have suggested he could receive a 1-year extension through the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Qatar is the defending Asian Cup champion, and Japan is expected to be among the contenders for the continental title. Twenty-four teams have qualified, with Japan placed in Group F alongside Indonesia, Qatar and Thailand.