The Road Ahead
The Road
Three summits ahead: the Asian Cup 2027, the LA 2028 Olympics, and the 2030 World Cup.
First stop
Asian Cup 2027, Saudi Arabia
Kickoff in Riyadh
January 7 to February 5, 2027
The one we want. Japan has won Asia a record four times but not since 2011, with a final lost in 2019 and a quarterfinal exit in 2024 stinging along the way. Sixteen years is too long, and this squad knows it.
On the way there: four home matches this fall (Sep 24, Sep 28, Oct 1, Oct 5), the first steps of the post-World-Cup squad. Fixtures · Tickets are on sale now from about $8
Second stop
LA 2028 Olympics
Football kicks off
July 10, 2028, four days before the ceremony
The Olympics is an under-23 tournament, which makes it a preview of Japan's next generation, the players who will carry the 2030 World Cup. Gold medal matches land at the Rose Bowl on July 28 and 29. For supporters in the US, this is the home fixture of the decade.
The summit
World Cup 2030
Spain, Portugal & Morocco
June 8 to July 21, 2030
The centenary World Cup. Japan left 2026 unbeaten in the group and a stoppage-time goal from the quarterfinal conversation, and 2030 is where this generation's promise comes due. Asian qualifying begins in the years ahead; we'll track every step of it here.
The storylines we're tracking
- Moriyasu's future. Eight years, two World Cups, and a decision coming. Follow every development under Moriyasu Watch.
- The next squad. The fall friendlies are the first look at who carries Japan toward Riyadh and beyond.
- The group is set. Japan drew Group F: defending champions Qatar, Thailand, and Indonesia, opening January 11 in Jeddah. Dates and calendar buttons on the schedule.
- Where America watches: solved. CBS Sports confirmed US rights in July 2026: every Asian Cup match on Paramount+, big games free on the Golazo Network. Details in the Watch Guide.