Wataru Endo has declared that Japan are ready to make a serious impression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — and believes the squad has the quality to go further than ever before.

Japan have reached the round of 16 on several occasions but have never been able to progress beyond that stage. Endo, however, is convinced this generation is different.

A bold ambition

Speaking to FIFA, the Japan captain made clear just how high his side are aiming. "I want people to see us play and think to themselves 'maybe those guys could really go and win the whole thing,'" he said.

That confidence is grounded in what Japan achieved at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where they produced two of the tournament's most stunning upsets — defeating both Germany and Spain in the group stage.

"I think that beating Germany and Spain was proof that we're genuinely a strong side," Endo said. Those results announced Japan as a team capable of competing at the very highest level.

Mindset shift after Qatar

Beyond the results themselves, Endo points to a transformation in how the players think about their own game. The Qatar tournament appears to have reshaped the squad's ambitions from the inside out.

"After Qatar, a lot of us started thinking that we'd like to play more proactive football and take the initiative out on the pitch," he said. That shift in mentality could prove just as significant as any tactical preparation.

A tough group awaits

Japan will face stiff competition in Group F, where they are drawn alongside Sweden, Tunisia, and the Netherlands. Navigating that group will demand exactly the bold, front-foot football Endo is calling for.

With their stunning results against Brazil — a first-ever win — also in recent memory, Japan arrive at 2026 with momentum, belief, and a captain determined to show the world they belong among the tournament's contenders.