I’m not entirely sure how, but Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s slim chance of qualifying for the 2026–27 ACLs has now vanished. 🙄

🇯🇵🧤Keisuke Osako of Sanfrecce Hiroshima has been selected for the 2026 World Cup squad. Congratulations! 🏹🇯🇵

MF/FW Ao Tanaka Keito Nakamura Kaishu Sano Takefusa Kubo Yuito Suzuki Kento Shiogai Keisuke Goto

MF/FW Wataru Endo Junya Ito Daichi Kamada Koki Ogawa Daizen Maeda Ritsu Doan Ayase Ueda

HERE WE GO FOR REAL. GK Tomoki Hayakawa Keisuke Osako Zion Suzuki DF Yuto Nagatomo Shogo Taniguchi Ko Itakura Tsuyoshi Watanabe Takehiro Tomiyasu Hiroki Ito Ayumu Seko Yukinari Sugawara Junnosuke Suzuki

Oh wait. "You may think there are only a few J.League players in the J.League, but it's because of the players' experience in the J.League that they're able to take on this global challenge. It's because of the local support they had that they were able to go overseas. Thank you for your support."

Moriyasu thanks the J.League, fans, supporters, everyone in all of Japan's 47 prefectures, the soccer family, etc etc etc. And here we go.

Moriyasu: "I'm about to announce my squad, but it was thanks to everyone who played for Japan in qualifying who helped support us and get us to this point. I'll announce 26 players today, but they're playing with the heart and spirit of everyone who's played together with them until now."

Moriyasu starts by thanking supporters etc etc. "I've given this a lot of thought, but I want to once again express my gratitude. In the campaign to reach this World Cup, many players have come to us with the desire to fight for Japan."

MATCH THREAD Hajime Moriyasu vs. 300 journalists We are 15 minutes from the announcement of Japan's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

#INAC神戸レオネッサ INAC Kobe Leonessa announce that for their record attempt at their final season match vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina on 5.16 13:00 they have sold 7,498 of the targeted 20,000 tickets so far. Hopefully many more are going to fill the stands!! #woso #女子サッカー

In this scenario, if Gamba were to win the ACL2 and also somehow managed to win the HYVL (I think it's still possible?) over Machida, then Gamba would go straight to ACLE group stage w/ Kashima & Kashiwa, Kyoto and Machida would be indirect seeds, and Hiroshima would go straight to ACL2 group stage.

I understand the headache. It is like all the big international tournaments, just want more matched, to gain more money.

If Gamba Osaka win the ACL2 final, they will get an indirect spot in the ACLE, and that could roll up to the HYVL runner-up and Sanfrecce depending on where Kyoto finish. Remember that if any clubs get bounced from the ACLE playoff they'll end up in the ACL2!

ACL2 direct berths: 1. 2025 Emperor's Cup champs (Machida) 2. 2025 Levain Cup champs (Hiroshima) 3. 2025 J1 4th (Hiroshima) 4. 2025 J1 5th (Kobe) So if Machida were to win the HYVL vs. Kyoto, they would get direct ACLE spot, Kyoto and Hiroshima would get indirect, & Kobe would get ACL2. BUT WAIT-

ACLE indirect berths: 1. 2025 J1 3rd (Kyoto) 2. J1 HYVL 2nd (TBD) 3. 2025 J1 4th (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) 4. J1 HYVL 3rd (TBD) 5. 2025 J1 5th (Vissel Kobe) So if Kyoto beat Kashima in the HYVL final, Hiroshima and the HYVL 3rd place team would enter from the playoffs. BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!

Basically the order of operations for ACLE direct berths is: 1. 2025 J1 champs (Kashima Antlers) 2. J1 HYVL champs (TBD) 3. 2025 J1 2nd (Kashiwa Reysol) 4. 2025 J1 3rd (Kyoto Sanga) [if Antlers also win the HYVL] So congrats #Reysol on officially reaching the ACLE league stage.

The #JLeague has just announced how it will handle ACL Elite and ACL2 appointments following the AFC's decision to *sigh* expand the ACLE to 32 clubs, giving Japan three direct seeds to the league stage and two indirect seeds to the playoff stage. I have a headache from parsing this...

Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina Youth is one of the teams taking part in the promotion play-offs, aiming to join the U-18 Women’s Premier League from its very inauguration. Really looking forward to it! 🏹🏹🏹

Two strikers, two goals. #sanfrecce

🇯🇵U-17 👚 Ayane Nakashima has been selected from Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina Youth! She was registered with Regina in February as a player eligible to feature in official WE League matches. Good luck! 🏹🏹🏹

#LitteNadeshiko Finally the JFA has published the squad for the U-17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026. Since the clubs had published their nominated players already the JFA obviously messed up the scheduling. JEF Chiba's Runa Sumiya, who had been at Bayern for a training camp, is on the list. #woso

This date is confirmed by the JFA.

Samurai Blue head coach Hajime Moriyasu working toward a May 15 announcement for his World Cup squad. This is, of course, “#JLeague Day” - the anniversary of the league’s historic first match in 1993, celebrated annually as professional soccer’s birthday in Japan. Big declaration of intent.

The beta version of the Japan Football site is now live. +1,000 match records, +100 videos (all official either as embeds or links), and more. If using mobile, best in horizontal (fully responsive site in works). A lot, lot more to come - full site in time for the World Cup. Feedback welcome!

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „We have trained extensively to maintain our composure and keep control even when facing intense pressure from the opposition. We believe that the ‘next step’ for this team is to retain control and stick to our own style of play.“ #sanfrecce 1/2 www.sanfrecce.co.jp/matches/2026...

🎍🎌 It doesn’t bring a place in the next ACLs, but just like Regina did, I want to win the New Year’s Day title!!! 🏹🏆

2026 Emperor's Cup schedule announced: 8/19 Round 1 (University of Tsukuba as amateur seed, 47 prefectural reps) 8/26 Round 2 (J1 & J2 clubs enter) 9/23 Round 3 games involving ACL teams 10/7 Round 3 12/9 Round of 16 12/23 QFs (happy birthday to me?) 12/27 SFs 1/1 Final

😭 Former Sanfrecce Hiroshima player Chikara Fujimoto has been sacked as manager of Nagano Parceiro. His successor is another former Sanfrecce player, Shinji Kobayashi.

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „Kobe play a very compact, high-tempo style; they are intense in defence and will likely press us tightly, almost man-to-man. It is important that we do not adapt too much to them, but rather focus on our own game.“ #sanfrecce 1/2 www.instagram.com/p/DWV_JzsiNp...

The day before the S-Pulse match! 🗻🚄🏹 🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „Shimizu are a very solid side who concede few goals. With the league so tightly contested, it looks likely that tomorrow’s match will be a tense, one-goal affair against their solid defence.“ #sanfrecce 1/2 www.instagram.com/p/DWJBO8QlFG...

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „We may not be perfect every week, but we want to keep our focus on what we need to do and always aim to perform better than we did in the previous match. Ultimately, whether we can convert our chances will be the yardstick by which we judge our performance.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

Just in from the JFA: the Japan U21’s Turkey camp has been canceled due to the evolving (=deteriorating) situation in West Asia. Substitute camp details are being worked on.

✅ A crucial win to get us back into the ACL Elite! #sanfrecce #NaotoArai

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: “It is extremely disappointing to have been knocked out of the ACL Elite, but I told the players that we must not judge them solely on the results of these two matches. We now need to focus all our attention on the league.“ #sanfrecce 1/2 www.instagram.com/p/DV0gu3Bjeh...

In the ACL Elite, we lost 2-3 on aggregate. 😞 #sanfrecce This weekend's match is against Gamba Osaka, who are currently advancing through the ACL Two. We'll do our best.

🎙️ Gaul: „I told the players that the comeback story had already begun – that we would return home, score two goals, and then win. I believe they will embody that strong conviction on the pitch: believing in themselves and giving 100% to secure victory.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

— It's a tough situation, isn't it? 🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „While circumstances vary, the fact remains that we have a match tomorrow, and it's crucial we prepare thoroughly for that. If we can win the match before us, I believe the path ahead will become clearer.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „Rotation could become our team's strength. To get through the next two weeks, our top priority is ensuring our best players are fresh for each match. We are treating multiple fixtures as a single sequence and preparing to respond to whatever happens in each game.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul: „Unlike the teams we've faced so far, Cerezo Osaka are a side that look to play their own brand of football, stringing passes together and building from the back. Having already established a style similar to ours, it's sure to be an exciting encounter.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina will play their 100th WE League match tomorrow. To date: 99 matches, W37- D27- L35 114 goals scored, 110 goals conceded Let's welcome this milestone with a home victory! 🏹💜

🌏ACL Elite 2025/26 Knockout Stage! 　　🔥Round of 16🔥 　　　　 　🇯🇵 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 　　　　　　　vs 　🇲🇾 Johor Darul Ta'zim FC ⚽️ 1st Leg 📆 Wed., 4 March 20:15 [21:15 JST] ✈️ Sultan Ibrahim Stadium ⚽️ 2nd Leg 📆 Wed., 11 March 19:00 🏟️ HOME!!!

🎙️ Bartosch Gaul „We are here to win, not to spend a holiday. It is true that the team is in good condition, but I cannot state at this moment who will play. Given the large number of matches, we will likely implement some rotation.“ #sanfrecce 1/2 www.instagram.com/p/DU0KyQ4DyG...

W 🔛 #sanfrecce A special tournament has been arranged for Keisuke Osako to shine in this World Cup year. Thank you, J.League! 😉

𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒💜 🏟️🪽EDION Peace Wing Hiroshima 🗓️ Sat., 14 February 🕑 J1 100 Year League MD 2 🆚 #sanfrecce vs Fagiano Okayama 🎫 Sold Out 🗓️Sun., 15 February 🕙 Sanfrecce Top Team Training* 🕜 WE League MD 15 🆚 #sanfrecceREGINA v Reds Ladies 🎟️ On sale! *Open to Regina match spectators

The day before the match! 🎙️ Bartosch Gaul „I'm looking forward to playing my first derby in Japan with the amazing support of our home crowd. Fagiano are a defensively solid opponent, but we want to play patiently to win.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

#NextMatch｜ACL Elite｜MD 7 📆 Tuesday, February 10, 19:00 (+9) 🆚 Johor Darul Ta'zim 🇲🇾 🏟️ HOME: Hiroshima Soccer Stadium (Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima)🪽 Can't miss it! 🔛👀

🔜 The day before the game! Bartosch Gaul: 🎙️„Every match demands that we stay focused each moment. We will pour 100% motivation and energy into tomorrow's game and aim for victory.“ 🎙️„We're looking forward to playing our first home game and are well prepared.“ #sanfrecce 1/2

One week until the #JLeague 100 Year Vision League (also known as the HYVL or the Chaos Energy J.League Cup) kicks off! The league has announced that four opening-weekend matches will be streamed on the international YouTube channel, available outside Japan & territories with broadcasting deals.

Lovely interview with the new head coach! Particularly nice to hear that Gaul doesn’t want to flip the apple cart, tactically — and the spots he wants to improve sound exactly right to me.