Kensuke Nagai and Kento Hashimoto have been called up for the Samurai Blue to play in the team's 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and AFC Asian Cup China PR 2023 Preliminary Joint Qualification – Round 2 matches in October. Kensuke Nagai said, "I'm going to keep myself in top condition and will do my best for the win." Kento Hashimoto said, "I'm going to do everything I can to rise to this challenge and pay the Japan National Team back for my selection." The Samurai Blue will play against Mongolia National Team on October 10 and against Tajikistan National Team on October 15.