U-20 Japan National Team squad & schedule - AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ (2/1-3/2＠Shenzhen, China PR)

List

28 January 2025

U-20 Japan National Team squad & schedule - AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™ (2/1-3/2＠Shenzhen, China PR)

Staff

Head Coach: FUNAKOSHI Yuzo (JFA National Coaching Staff)
Coach: SUGAWARA Daisuke (JFA National Coaching Staff)
Coach: HANEDA Kenji (JFA National Coaching Staff)
GK Coach: TAKAHARA Toshiyasu (JFA National Coaching Staff)
Physical Coach: KANNO Atsushi (JFA Physical Fitness Project)
Technical Staff: OCHI Shigeyuki (JFA Technical House)
Technical Staff: HIKIDA Mahiro (JFA Technical House)

Squad

GK
NAKAMURA Keisuke (Tokyo Verdy)
GOTO Wataru (FC Tokyo)
ARAKI Rui (Gamba Osaka)

DF
KUWAHARA Rikuto (Meiji University)
SHIOKAWA Harumichi (Ryutsu Keizai University)
ICHIHARA Rion (RB Omiya Ardija)
TAKAHASHI Niko (Cerezo Osaka)
UMEKI Rei (FC Imabari)
KITA Kazunari (Kyoto Sanga FC)
TSUCHIYA Kaito (Kawasaki Frontale)
FUSE Katsuma (Nihon University Fujisawa Senior High school)

MF
OZEKI Yuto (Kawasaki Frontale)
OGURA Kosei (Hosei University)
SAITO Shunsuke (Mito HollyHock)
NAKAGAWA Hagumu (Ryutsu Keizai University)
ISHII Hisatsugu (Shonan Bellmare)
NAKAJIMA Yotaro (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
SATO Ryunosuke (Fagiano Okayama)
Nick SCHMIDT (FC St. Pauli U19/Germany)

FW
KANDA Soma (Kawasaki Frontale)
MICHIWAKI Yutaka (SK Beveren/Belgium)
INOUE Alen (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
TAKAOKA Rento (Nissho Gakuen High School)

※Training Partners (Scheduled to train with the team from 2/1 to 2/7)
SASAKI Shoei (FC Tokyo U-18)
NAKAYAMA Shion (Tokyo Verdy Youth)

Comment of Head Coach FUNAKOSHI Yuzo

The AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™, which will determine the teams that qualify for the World Cup, is finally about to begin. The matches played in last year's qualifiers were all very challenging, but I believe the players certainly benefited from those three matches. We are expecting a tough battle from the very first match of the Asian Cup, but we will use all the experience we have gained and work together as a team to secure a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup™. And I think the players will grow even more through these tough battles. This team comprises numerous players who are poised to spearhead the future of Japanese football. We hope that as many people as possible will have the opportunity to see them in action.

Schedule

AFC U20 Asian Cup China PR 2025™
Sat. 1 February	16:15	Training (Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field)
Sun. 2 February	10:30	Training (Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field)
Mon. 3 February	ー	Training *Closed to the public
Tue. 4 February	13:00	Training match vs Nagano Parceiro (Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field)
Wed. 5 February	10:30	Training (Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field)
Thu. 6 February	ー	Training *Closed to the public
Fri. 7 February	ー	Training match *Closed to the public
Sat. 8 February	09:30	Training (Prince Takamado Memorial JFA YUME Field)
Mon. 10 February	TBC	Training
Tue. 11 February	TBC	Training
Wed. 12 February	TBC	Training
Thu. 13 February	TBC	Training
Fri. 14 February	17:15	1st Group stage match (Group D) vs U-20 Thailand National Team (Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1)
Sat. 15 February	TBC	Training
Sun. 16 February	TBC	Training
Mon. 17 February	15:00	2nd Group stage match (Group D) vs U-20 Syria National Team (Longhua Cultural and Sports Centre Stadium)
Tue. 18 February	TBC	Training
Wed. 19 February	TBC	Training
Thu. 20 February	15:00	3rd Group stage match (Group D) vs U-20 Korea Republic National Team (Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1)
Fri. 21 February	TBC	Training
Sat. 22 February	TBC	Training
Sun. 23 February	16:15	Quarterfinal D2 vs C1 (Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium)
Sun. 23 February	19:30	Quarterfinal D1 vs C2 (Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Pitch 1)
Mon. 24 February	TBC	Training
Tue. 25 February	TBC	Training
Wed. 26 February	16:15	Semi-final D1 (Shenzhen Youth Football Training Base Centre Stadium)
Wed. 26 February	19:30	Semi-final D2 (Baoan Sports Centre Stadium)
Thu. 27 February	TBC	Training
Fri. 28 February	TBC	Training
Sat. 1 March	19:30	Final (Baoan Sports Centre Stadium)