There is no doubt that the level of our football has risen higher than before.

Hajime Moriyasu said Japan must keep improving if they are to challenge for the World Cup title, after their 2-1 defeat to Brazil knocked them out of the 2026 tournament.

The Japan head coach said he was deeply disappointed by the result but praised his players for fighting until the end. He also thanked the coaching staff and the rest of the squad for their commitment throughout the campaign.

Moriyasu apologised to supporters, saying many had backed the team inside the stadium and others had watched in the middle of the night from Japan and around the world. He said he felt he had not fulfilled his role properly and asked fans to take pride in the players’ effort.

Looking ahead, Moriyasu said Japanese football has moved forward compared with the past, but this World Cup showed there is still work to do to match the game’s biggest powers. He added that the goal remains to win the World Cup and said he will continue working towards that aim.