Kyogo Furuhashi's forgettable first season at Birmingham City has culminated in his exclusion from Japan's squad for the 2026 World Cup. Japan announced their 26-man squad for the tournament in North America, and the out-of-form striker was unsurprisingly left out.
Season Struggles
Furuhashi managed just one Championship goal for Birmingham City last season, a late effort against Sheffield Wednesday in January. In total, he scored three goals in 31 appearances across all competitions, including cup goals against Sheffield United and Cambridge United. The 31-year-old has not been called up by Japan in over a year.
World Cup Ambition Dashed
When Kyogo signed from Rennes last summer, he made clear his ambition to play in the World Cup. "Everyone wants to be in the national team and it's the same for any country. I'd like to be in it and aspire to go to the World Cup," he said. However, his lack of goals made selection impossible.
Four English-based players made Japan's squad: Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu, Liverpool's Wataru Endo, Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada, and Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka.
Future at Birmingham City
Birmingham City could offload Furuhashi this summer if the right offer arrives. The club recently allowed him to undergo surgery to correct a long-standing shoulder issue, hoping to have him ready for next season. Fans are divided on whether the club should sell the striker.
