When does Oiwa start as head coach?

Oiwa will begin his role with an international friendly next March. Moriyasu will remain as head coach until after the Asian Cup, which will be held in January and February 2027.

What other coaching role will Oiwa hold?

Oiwa will concurrently serve as head coach of Japan's Under-21 national team, which aims to secure a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

What is Oiwa's coaching background?

Oiwa became head coach of Japan's youth national team in 2021 after leading Kashima Antlers in Japan's top division. He retained his position after Japan reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Japan Times TechJul 24, 2026Jul 24, 2026, 10:01 JST

Japan names Go Oiwa as next men's soccer coach

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3 Key Points

What happened
The Japan Football Association announced Thursday that Go Oiwa, 54, will become head coach of the men's national team starting with an international friendly next March, replacing Hajime Moriyasu. Oiwa will also serve concurrently as head coach of Japan's Under-21 team, which aims to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Why it matters
Moriyasu, who led Japan at two World Cups and guided the team to the knockout stage in both 2022 and this year, will remain through the Asian Cup in January–February 2027. Oiwa is tasked with preparing for the 2030 World Cup while developing younger players and sustaining Moriyasu's strategic approach.
What to watch
Oiwa, who coached Kashima Antlers in Japan's top division before taking over the youth national team in 2021, retained that role after Japan reached the Paris 2024 Olympics quarterfinals. A news conference with JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Moriyasu is scheduled for Friday.

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Context & Analysis

The appointment represents a transition designed to balance continuity with generational renewal. Moriyasu, who took the role in summer 2018, made history as the first coach to lead Japan at two World Cups, achieving knockout-stage advancement in both Qatar 2022 and the most recent tournament held jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States. Though Japan lost to Brazil 2–1 in its first knockout-stage match this year, Moriyasu's tenure established a strategic foundation the JFA intends to preserve. By naming Oiwa—who has direct experience building youth talent through his work with the Under-21 team and his observation of Japan's quarterfinal run at Paris 2024—the association signals it will develop younger players within Moriyasu's framework rather than abandon it. The overlap period, with Moriyasu leading through the Asian Cup in early 2027, provides a structured handoff ahead of the 2030 World Cup cycle.

FAQ

When does Oiwa start as head coach?: Oiwa will begin his role with an international friendly next March. Moriyasu will remain as head coach until after the Asian Cup, which will be held in January and February 2027.
What other coaching role will Oiwa hold?: Oiwa will concurrently serve as head coach of Japan's Under-21 national team, which aims to secure a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
What is Oiwa's coaching background?: Oiwa became head coach of Japan's youth national team in 2021 after leading Kashima Antlers in Japan's top division. He retained his position after Japan reached the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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