The Japan national football team has recently recorded 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 5 games. Recent form is as follows: | Date | Opponent | Result | | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-11-18 | Bolivia | 3-0 win | In the FIFA World Cup North and Central America tournament, Japanese referees Araki Yosuke and Miura Jun will officiate as the fourth official and reserve assistant referee, respectively, in the Egypt-Iran match on the 26th (27th in Japan time). This will be their sixth game.

Why are Japan's referees performing well?

Japan Football Association's Referee Manager, Nishimura Yuichi, comments on the selection, highlighting the high evaluation of Japanese referees' skills and physical abilities. Nishimura himself has experience as a referee in the 2010 South Africa World Cup and the 2014 Brazil World Cup, where he officiated in the opening match.

Japan's referees are highly evaluated

According to Nishimura, Japanese referees' technical, physical, and behavioral abilities are highly regarded worldwide. However, he notes that it is difficult for Japanese referees to achieve results in Asia due to unique challenges.

What's next for Japan's referees?

To officiate in the World Cup, referees need to obtain an international referee license. Japan's referees must continue to improve their skills and physical abilities to perform well in future World Cups. Currently, the Japan national football team has the following players sidelined due to injury: | Player | Injury | | --- | --- | | S. Machino | - | | T. Kubo | - |