Fire me without any questions asked

Former Japan international Keisuke Honda has expressed his keenness to become the new head coach of the Samurai Blues after their FIFA World Cup campaign. The Asian side were eliminated from the competition following a Round of 32 defeat to Brazil earlier this week.

Honda took to X to issue a public plea, stating that he would like to replace current head coach Hajime Moriyasu if the coach is being thought of as a stop-gap. He set a target of the Asian Cup in 2027, asking that he be sacked if he fails to win the competition.

“I know this might be controversial, but let me say it anyway. I saw the news that they’re offering Coach Hajime Moriyasu a one-year contract extension, but if it’s just a stopgap offer because they can’t find any other candidates for the next coach, then why not try me for a year? If we lose the Asian Cup, you can fire me without any questions asked. I’m ready to take on that challenge”, he wrote.

Japan were eliminated from the first knockout round once more as they continue to seek a first-ever knockout stage victory in the FIFA World Cup. They have offered a one-year deal to coach Moriyasu to lead them to next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, as well.

Honda played for his country between 2008 and 2018, and is still active at 40, as he currently plays for Singaporean side FC Jurong. Remarkably, he has already had a stint as coach of the Cambodia U-23 and senior national teams despite still being an active footballer.

Hajime Moriyasu remains highly respected and valued by the Japanese players and federation, and is likely to continue in his role. The Samurai Blues have not won the Asian Cup since 2011, and a win next year will strengthen his position in the national team.

How did Japan fare at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan were regarded as one of the dark horses for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after arriving on a seven-game unbeaten run. This run included wins over Brazil and England, positioning them for a potential deep run in the competition.

The Samurai Blues began the tournament with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the Netherlands before claiming a convincing victory over Tunisia in their second game. They concluded their group stage campaign with a draw against Sweden, going through to the Round of 32 in second place.

Japan came unstuck in the Round of 32 against Brazil despite opening the scoring through Kaishu Sano. They conceded twice in the second half to Casemiro and Gabriel Martinelli to crash out of the FIFA World Cup.