As the FIFA World Cup 26 draws closer, 38-year-old Yuto Nagatomo once again finds himself at the centre of interest in the Japanese camp.
Nagatomo is aiming to play in his fifth FIFA World Cup with Japan
His mental strength and experience would serve as key resources for the team
The defender recently led the Asian side to the E-1 Football Championship title
Experience is a quality that has shown itself to be decisive at the highest level time and again, especially at the FIFA World Cup™. As such, it is difficult to describe just how important it is for a team to have veteran players who they can call on. At the age of 38, Yuto Nagatomo fully understands that this is his role for Japan, and it is a duty that he is happy to accept.
The latest chapter of his story began at the 2023 Asian Cup. The Samurai Blue had just suffered a shock elimination at the hands of IR Iran in the quarter-finals of a competition that many had expected them to win. As the rumblings of discontent grew louder, the team soon turned to a man who had spent the prior 15 months in the international wilderness. That man was Nagatomo.
Since his return, Japan have dominated their group in the AFC qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26™, with their only defeat coming away to Australia. There is little doubt that his presence in the camp was a driving force behind this form.
However, Nagatomo did not set foot on the pitch even once. Despite spending days and weeks without playing, the veteran star was not content with just a watching brief. Even from the bench, he offered his team the inspiration and support that they needed from him.
“I felt like I wasn’t being seen as a member of the team out there on the pitch,” he admitted, revealing his conflicted feelings about the role given to him. There is, of course, a reason he has remained in the squad, and that is his obsession with making it to the World Cup.
He already has four of them under his belt, but describes Brazil 2014 as “the biggest frustration in my life”. At the time, Nagatomo was in great form for FC Internazionale Milano. “I’d just had the best season of my career; I was absolutely flying,” he recalls.
Under Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni, Japan had built an energetic and forward-thinking side around the likes of Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa. They had won the 2011 Asian Cup, gone toe-to-toe with top European sides, and waltzed through the AFC qualifiers. It seemed like the only way was up. Failing to make it out of the group stage was therefore a bitter pill to swallow, not least of all for Nagatomo, as it significantly impacted his career and approach to the national team.
“At the time I felt confident but, looking back, I think I was probably overconfident,” he says. “I’d lost sight of my dreams and my goals. It was a very painful experience for me, and I still carry the scars from that.”
Looking at Japan’s current team, the parallels with the 2014 side are striking. Both of them overwhelmed opponents in the AFC qualifiers, with the 2025 group qualifying faster than any other team. The Samurai Blue are also the top Asian side in the FIFA rankings and have a sizeable crop of talented young players plying their trade abroad. With the team being slightly unsettled, Nagatomo’s experience is sure to be an enormous boon.
The round of 16 has proven to be a brick wall for Japan. Four of their tournaments have ended at that stage, and Nagatomo played in three of those. Although 2026 will see the tournament expanded to include 48 teams, adding an extra knockout round to get through, Japan will be doing everything they can to reach the final eight.
Nagatomo’s contributions are not limited to his on-field performances. He is an example for younger players, setting standards for how to behave in training, in the dressing room, and even at the team hotel. As a senior member of the squad, he holds player meetings, and works to change the mood around the camp when things get tricky, helping to build a sense of unity.
Of course, Nagatomo is not unique in this regard. Throughout the world, there are a number of players who have remained crucial members of their team deep into the twilight of their careers. Croatia’s Luka Modric, for example, was 37 at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, and was the beating heart of his team’s midfield as they finished third. Mexico’s Rafael Marquez appeared in his fifth World Cup at Russia 2018 at the age of 39.
Of course, no list of veterans would be complete without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese legend has scored at five consecutive World Cups – a truly monumental achievement – and even now continues to be a reliable source of goals. He does a lot more than just put the ball in the net, however. He is also a talismanic presence, imbuing his teammates with confidence, drive and unity out on the pitch.
All of those players have one thing in common: experience. Beyond simply having more years on the pitch, they offer knowledge, composure and leadership, assets that transcend mere technique and tactical knowledge.
This is certainly not a department in which Nagatomo is lacking. Now, as he looks ahead to a fifth World Cup, he brings not only his past track record, but a wealth of wisdom and spirit as he looks to lead the team into the future.
Nagatomo has still not given up on contributing on the pitch, however. At the recent E-1 Football Championship, he pulled on the captain’s armband and lined up for Japan for the first time in years, leading them to an excellent victory. His performance showed that he still has plenty to give, even beyond his experience and seniority.
“There’s a lot for me to do, but I know I’m capable of it”.
His words leave little room for doubt. With ten months left until the World Cup, his journey is far from over.
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