The Japan Football Association (JFA) has unveiled the roster and jersey numbers for the U-20 national soccer team slated to compete at the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup. This prestigious tournament will kick off on December 12, 2025, and is set to take place in Shenzhen, China. Sixteen teams from across Asia will battle for the title of Asian champions, and the four best-performing teams will earn spots at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is scheduled for September of this year.
The U-20 Japan national team, striving for their first championship since 2016, has been placed in Group D. Their first match is against the U-20 team of Thailand on December 14, followed by fixtures against U-20 Syria on December 17, and U-20 South Korea on December 20. This competition serves as both the Asian championship and qualifying rounds for the World Cup.
The JFA previously announced the squad on November 28 and has now specified the assigned jersey numbers for each player. Among the team highlights, the coveted No. 10 jersey will be worn by Tomohito Ozeki from Kawasaki Frontale, known for his creative playmaking abilities. The No. 8 jersey goes to Yotarō Nakashima of Sanfrecce Hiroshima, another key midfielder expected to contribute significantly to the team’s offense.
Notably, Reito Takaoka – who recently secured a move to Southampton in England – will don the No. 20 jersey, showcasing his potential and experience on this international stage. The complete jersey assignment for the squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
- 1 Kyosuke Nakamura (Tokyo Verdy)
- 12 Wataru Goto (FC Tokyo)
- 23 Ruki Araki (Gamba Osaka)
Defenders:
- 16 Riku Kuwahara (Meiji University)
- 15 Sakuto Shiokawa (Ryutsu Keizai University)
- 5 Rion Ichihara (Omiya Ardija)
- 3 Jinko Takahashi (Cerezo Osaka)
- 2 Rei Umeki (FC Imabari)
- 4 Kazuya Kita (Kyoto Sanga F.C.)
- 19 Kaido Tsuchiya (Kawasaki Frontale)
- 18 Katsuma Fuse (Fujisawa High School)
Midfielders:
- 10 Tomohito Ozeki (Kawasaki Frontale)
- 6 Yukinari Ogura (Hosei University)
- 21 Shunsuke Saito (Mito Hollyhock)
- 17 Iku Nakagawa (Ryutsu Keizai University)
- 13 Hisatsugu Ishii (Shonan Bellmare)
- 8 Yotarō Nakashima (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
- 7 Ryunosuke Sato (Fagiano Okayama)
- 22 Nick Schmidt (St. Pauli U-19 / Germany)
Forwards:
- 9 Soma Kanda (Kawasaki Frontale)
- 14 Yutaka Michiwaki (SK Beveren / Belgium)
- 11 Airen Ito (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
- 20 Reito Takaoka (Nichii Gakuen High School)
The JFA has expressed confidence in the young players, noting, "The U-20 national team aims to clinch the title for the first time since 2016." The head coach added, "We are focused on our strategy and confident in our players' abilities." This combination of talent and ambition sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament for Japan.
With dedicated support from fans and rigorous preparation, the U-20 Japan national team hopes to not only compete but excel, capturing the Asian title and securing their path forward to the FIFA U-20 World Cup.