Japan’s run at the 2022 Qatar World Cup was called “magical” by some pundits, but that result would be a disappointment for Samurai Blue members who are preparing for the 2026 tournament.

Advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals has long been the goal for Japan. But now, Japanese players and their manager are eyeing something even bigger.

“Team members proposed ‘aiming for the top,’” Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu said, referring to a training camp in March.

Moriyasu has also expressed his ambition for “Japan to prove to be the best team across the globe.”

Since the March training camp, Samurai Blue has been on the right track for a World Cup title.

The national team ended the 2023 season with a record-tying eight consecutive wins in international “A” matches. The team had only one loss and one draw this year.

At the Qatar World Cup, Japan stunned the soccer world by defeating powerhouses Germany and Spain in group play.

Japan lost to Croatia in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 and was denied a spot in the final eight.

During the Qatar tournament, some Japanese players stated that their goal was to win the world championship.

Those aspirations have spread for the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Japan is now preparing its team both physically and mentally for the emotional and draining competition.

“To win the World Cup crown, we must go through eight games,” Moriyasu said.

But Samurai Blue first needs to qualify for the 2026 tournament.

Moriyasu has used a total of 48 players on the national team this year. Some could not play because of injuries and other reasons.

Regular selections for the team include Yukinari Sugawara of AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, who did not play in the Qatar World Cup, Seiya Maikuma of Cerezo Osaka in the J.League, Keito Nakamura who plays for Stade de Reims in France, and Zion Suzuki, a goalkeeper for Sint-Truiden in Belgium.

Kaishu Sano, 22, of the Kashima Antlers had a strong debut for Samurai Blue in the second Asian qualifying round for the World Cup in November.

Kashiwa Reysol’s Mao Hosoya, 21, scored his first goal as a national team member and energized the squad.

In group play of the two World Cups where Japan reached the top 16, the team tested a “turnover strategy” of dramatically changing the starting lineup between games.

The tactic resulted in 0-1 losses against Poland in the 2018 Russia World Cup and versus Costa Rica in Qatar.

This year, despite the changing lineup, even between games, and the injection of many new faces, Japan has maintained consistent quality on the field.

Two days after a huge victory over Germany in September, Japan replaced 10 starting members and won easily over Turkey.

In October, Samurai Blue used seven different starters in the victory over Tunisia, three days after defeating Canada.

Japan has been solid on both offense and defense, while making speedy switchovers.

The team has dominated control of the ball, improved its attacks from the flank, knocked opponents off-balance in the middle of the field and launched effective counterattacks.

Twenty-four players, including three goalkeepers, showcased their talents at two matches in November when the second Asian qualifier for the World Cup started. A single loss in the competition could prove fatal for the team’s World Cup aspirations.

“Our team’s total strength increased through the Qatar World Cup, and key players at that time are now helping to raise the overall performance of the team,” said midfielder Hidemasa Morita who plays for Sporting CP in Portugal.

Morita said newcomers are also working hard and further raising the collective competitiveness.

“Players seem to be trying to win positions on the team more aggressively than during the last qualifying round,” said Takumi Minamino of AS Monaco.

A refined sense of teamwork and familiarity has enabled Samurai Blue to excel without relying on individual stars.

The team can get by even if key members, such as Junya Ito from Stade de Reims, Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad in Spain, and Premier League players Takehiro Tomiyasu from Arsenal, Kaoru Mitoma from Brighton and Wataru Endo of Liverpool, are unavailable.

Moriyasu frequently says the “ones chosen at any given time are our best members.”

The Asian Cup will kick off in January.

Samurai Blue settled for runner-up in the last Asian Cup in 2019, when the team relied on core members and used only one substitute per game.

Regaining the Asian Cup title with a rotating lineup would push Japan toward its ultimate goal winning the World Cup title.