Yuto Nagatomo makes history as first Japanese player in five World Cups
The 39-year-old defender becomes the first Asian player ever to feature in five FIFA World Cup tournaments as Japan names its 2026 squad
At 39 years old, most professional footballers are deep into retirement, maybe running a podcast or launching a wine brand. Yuto Nagatomo chose a different path. He chose to keep showing up.
The Japanese defender has been named to Japan’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, making him the first player from Japan, and indeed the first from all of Asia, to participate in five editions of the tournament. That is not a typo. Five World Cups.
A career measured in decades
Nagatomo’s World Cup journey began in 2010 in South Africa. Since then, he has been a fixture for the Samurai Blue through the 2014 tournament in Brazil, the 2018 edition in Russia, the 2022 tournament in Qatar, and now the 2026 competition.
Born in 1986, Nagatomo has accumulated 145 international caps for Japan. That figure places him second in the country’s all-time rankings. He also holds the record for the most World Cup matches played by any Japanese player, with 15 appearances across his five tournaments.
The moment his name was called
The squad announcement came in mid-May 2026, and the moment carried real weight. When Nagatomo’s name was read aloud during the selection reveal, the veteran defender responded with visible emotion.
FIFA highlighted Nagatomo’s historic achievement on May 21, 2026, recognizing the significance of a milestone that transcends Japanese football. No Asian player in the history of the sport had previously appeared in five World Cup tournaments.
His international career extends well beyond World Cups. Nagatomo has represented Japan at the 2008 Olympics, three Asian Cups, and one Confederations Cup.
Why Japan wants experience in 2026
The 2026 World Cup marks the first edition under FIFA’s expanded 48-team format. More teams means more games, and going deep in a tournament of that scale requires players who have been through the pressure cooker before. Nagatomo, with 15 World Cup matches under his belt, is the definition of that kind of player.
His career at club level has also been anything but predictable. Nagatomo spent a significant stretch with Inter Milan in Serie A, competing at the highest level of European football.