r/JLeague

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Changing a NT coach isn't just about what the JFA thinks. Public opinion matters too. When fans start pushing for a coach to be sacked, hashtags trend, and criticism grows across social media and the media, the federation eventually feels that pressure.

In many countries, coaching changes aren't based purely on football reasons they're also influenced by fan sentiment. We've seen supporters put enough pressure on their federations to seriously reconsider or speed up a managerial change.

So I'm curious: why hasn't the Japanese fanbase rallied behind a #MoriyasuOut movement yet?

If the JFA were to appoint a new manager, my personal choices would be Akira Nishino or Keisuke Honda.

Does anyone know why there are no matches between September 19th and October 10th? Is it an international break or cup competition period?

https://www.jleague.co/fixtures/https://www.jleague.co/fixtures/

I've been watching the national team closely since the 2010 world cup. First, we need to acknowledge how far we've come. In 28 years since our first world cup appearance, we've gone from absolute minnows to a serious dark horse contender. In the 2010 world cup, we had 4 players playing in Europe. Now, all but our backup keepers and unc nagatomo play in Europe. This is huge. Unfortunately, our performances at the world cup (and Asian cup for that matter) has been largely stagnant.

This is the third world cup in a row where we took the lead in a knockout game and ended up losing. Why do we play in a low block each time? It's literally never worked. Why did Moriyasu take off Doan and Nakamura for two defenders? Even more mind boggling, why did Machino come on? He wasn't even in Moriyasu's original 26 man squad lol. We need to stop over respecting our opponent and play to our strengths. We have such a good squad on paper, and the most depth ever, but Moriyasu's tactics doesn't allow them to reach their potential. Look at the US for example. They're not better than us, yet each time they play they have a certain confidence, swagger to them. They control the tempo, even against stronger opponents. I would like to see us play like this someday.

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Presumably, Moriyasu won't be returning as manager for 2030. Who would you like to see take reins next?

I'm not Japanese, and this isn't aimed at Japanese fans. This is for the international Samurai Blue supporters.

I think this is where I get off.

What made me fall in love with Japan wasn't trophies. It was the aura this team had. Every time they faced a giant, you felt like something special could happen. They never looked scared. Whether it was against Italy, Belgium, Germany or Spain, they played with belief. That's what made them different.

But somewhere along the way, that excitement started turning into frustration.

Every World Cup follows the same script. Japan builds the hype, shocks everyone, proves they can go toe-to-toe with elite teams... and then they leave in the Round of 16. Every. Single. Time.

And in Asia? A team that's supposed to be the standard hasn't lifted the Asian Cup since 2011. At some point, you have to stop talking about "potential" and start asking why the results never match the talent.

This generation is probably the most talented Japan has ever had. More players are competing in Europe's top leagues than ever before. On paper, this should be the era that changes everything.

Instead, it feels like we're always saying, "maybe next tournament."

I'm just tired of waiting for the breakthrough. I wanted this team to become a genuine football powerhouse, not just the team everyone calls "dangerous" before knocking them out.

Any other international Samurai Blue fans feeling the same way, or have I just become too cynical?

Nothing against Brazil but love an underdog win.

What do you guys think in terms of strategy Japan need to have to win this game?

Injuries? Sure. Japan missed important players, and that matters. But injuries cannot be the whole explanation anymore. Japan is no longer a small football nation hoping to survive. The player pool is deeper, more European-based, more technical and more experienced than ever before.
That is exactly why the standard has to change.
The uncomfortable truth is simple: Japan keeps improving as a football nation, but the national team still does not win when it matters most. Five World Cup knockout appearances, five exits. 2002, 2010, 2018, 2022 and now 2026. This time, it was not even the familiar Round of 16 barrier. It was the Round of 32. So if we are being strict, this was not progress. It was another early knockout exit.

And this is not only about Moriyasu. It is also about the JFA’s ambition and accountability.
The JFA publicly talks about “Japan’s Way” and its long-term dream of winning the World Cup. That is a serious ambition. But if the ambition is really to become world-class, then the reaction after failure cannot always be: “we have to level up,” “the gap is closing,” “let’s focus on next time.” At some point, those words become too comfortable.
Where are the concrete consequences? Where is the serious review of tournament coaching, squad selection, substitutions, set pieces, game management and psychological pressure in knockout matches?

Moriyasu deserves credit for stability, team spirit and for helping Japan become respected internationally. But he also has to be judged by tournament outcomes. Two Asian Cups, no title. A World Cup Round of 16 exit in 2022. A World Cup Round of 32 exit in 2026. No knockout win. No silverware. For arguably one of the strongest generations Japan has ever had, that is not enough.
The question is not whether Japan’s players are getting better. They clearly are. The real question is whether the coaching and federation are improving at the same speed as the players.

That is why Hidemasa Morita’s comments after the Asian Cup still matter. He pointed to the need for clearer advice from the bench and stronger guidance when the game is slipping away. That was not just an emotional complaint. It exposed a structural issue: in big tournament moments, Japan often looks disciplined, hard-working and brave — but not always clearly led.
The friendly wins are nice. Beating strong teams in test matches is nice. But Japanese media itself has warned against overvaluing friendly victories. They mean little if the same team keeps falling short in the competitions that define legacy.

This is the reality check: Japan has progressed. The players have progressed. The system has produced better talent. But the national team’s results have not yet caught up with that progress.
So Japan cannot keep hiding behind “good effort” and “growth.” If the JFA’s ambition is really to win the World Cup one day, then reaching the knockout stage cannot be celebrated forever. At some point, ambition has to become accountability.

The problem is not that Japan lost to Brazil. Losing 2–1 to Brazil is not shameful. The problem is the pattern around the loss: another lead not converted, another tournament exit, another emotional “we must level up” press conference, and another cycle where the JFA seems more interested in continuity than hard accountability. If Japan’s official ambition is really to win the World Cup by 2050, then the question after this defeat should not be “did we fight bravely?” It should be: what exactly failed, who is responsible, and what changes before the next major tournament?