Daichi Kamada

Daichi Kamada is the Crystal Palace midfielder named in Japan's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, confirmed by Hajime Moriyasu on 15 May 2026. He is 29 at kick-off and brings 49 senior caps and 12 international goals into the tournament, one of the more experienced midfielders in the group. Wataru Endo captains the side.

Kamada can play as a No. 10 or in a deeper central role, and his goal return is high for a midfielder. Japan qualified as winners of their Asian group and were drawn in Group F with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia, opening against the Netherlands in Arlington on 14 June. His goals and link play give the side a scoring threat from deeper areas of the pitch.

Kamada is an attacking midfielder. He is a technically accomplished player who can operate as a No. 10 or drop into a deeper central role, and he carries a scoring instinct that is unusual from midfield.

His value lives in the final third — arriving late into the box, linking play between the lines and finishing the chances that fall to him. In a deeper role, the same technical quality keeps him connected to Japan's midfield while preserving that goal threat.

What Kamada adds is goals from midfield — 12 in 49 caps — plus the flexibility of an attacking midfielder who can play as a No. 10 or deeper central option. The team holds Tier 3 status at £17m, a side that won its Asian group and drew Tunisia, Sweden and the Netherlands in Group F.

When Kamada features, that scoring threat is the payoff: late runs into the box, link play in the final third and finishing instinct from midfield.