2025 SheBelieves Cup: Japan roster announced — Washington Spirit’s Narumi Miura returns, Utah Royals forward Mina Tanaka also called up

Updates:

(Note: Except for the roster list and table, the names of Japan’s players will be in the Western format, with given names before family names.)

For his first matches in charge of the Japan Women’s National Team, head coach Nils Nielsen has opted for an experienced and mostly foreign-based squad that features just four players from the WE League. Of the 23 players named to Japan’s squad for the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, 19 were members of Nadeshiko Japan’s roster for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Three players, including Washington Spirit midfielder Narumi Miura, have been recalled after extended absences. Miura, who was a member of Japan’s squads for the COVID-delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, returns for her first camp since September 2023. The other two players are defender Saori Takarada, who also returns for the first time since September 2023, and Yuka Momiki, whose last call up was the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Both Takarada and Momiki had stints in the NWSL, with the Washington Spirit and OL Reign, respectively.

The only other current NWSL player named to the original roster was forward Mina Tonaka of the Utah Royals. Not making the original cut this time were two North Carolina Courage midfielders, who were both members of Japan’s squad for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup: Manaka Matsukubo and the freshly signed Shinomi Koyama.

Late on February 18th, the Japan Football Association announced that Matsukubo has been called up to replace Kiko Seike.

Both Courage players were called up for Japan’s last camp in October 2024 (jfa.jp), but remain uncapped at the senior level. Nielsen, who has only been in charge since December, has stated that for the next international window, he is planning to bring in more inexperienced players (Japanese news article), so Koyama could be called up then.

Meanwhile, the most questionable player omission from the original roster was recent Angel City signee Miyabi Moriya, especially given that the announced roster has just one player, Hikaru Kitagawa, who is primarily an outside-back. Moriya started at right outside-back in Japan’s last three matches during the 2024 Olympics after Manchester City’s Risi Shimizu suffered an ACL injury in their opening match (Man City news item). On February 18th, Moriya was called up to replace center-back Rion Ishikawa.

In addition to Shimizu, the only other player from the 2024 Summer Olympics not called up is goalkeeper Shu Ohba, who played NCAA soccer for Ole Miss (profile). In her place, the uncapped Akane Okuma, who was Japan’s starting goalkeeper at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, returns for her second straight camp, after first being called up for Japan’s last friendly, which was in October 2024. (No camp was held during the November/December international window.)

The oldest and most-capped player is defender Saki Kumagai, who was recently acquired by Michele Kang’s London City Lionesses (press release), which is battling for promotion out of the English Women’s Championship and into the Women’s Super League. The 34-year-old Kumagai currently has 157 appearance for the Nadeshiko and is the only player with 100-plus caps on their SheBelieves Cup roster. She is also the only holdover from the Japan squads for the 2011 and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cups.

Alphabetical Roster, By Position

(the JFA website has an English-language roster page with a headshot for each player as well as a link to their English-language profile page.)

Goalkeepers (3):

  • HIRAO Chika (Albirex Niigata Ladies / JPN)
  • OKUMA Akane (INAC Kobe Leonessa / JPN)*
  • YAMASHITA Ayaka (Manchester City / ENG)

Defenders (7):

  • ISHIKAWA Rion (Urawa Reds Ladies / JPN)**
  • KITAGAWA Hikaru (BK Hecken / SWE)
  • KOGA Toko (Feyenoord / NED)
  • KUMAGAI Saki (London City Lionesses / ENG)
  • MATSUKUBO Manaka (North Carolina Courage / USA)***
  • MINAMI Moeka (AS Roma / ITA)
  • MORIYA Miyabi (Angel City FC / USA)*
  • TAKAHASHI Hana (Urawa Reds Ladies / JPN)
  • TAKARADA Saori (Leicester City / ENG)

Midfielders (10):

  • FUJINO Aoba (Manchester City / ENG)
  • HAMANO Maika (Chelsea / ENG)
  • HASEGAWA Yui (Manchester City / ENG)
  • HAYASHI Honoka (Everton / ENG)
  • MIURA Narumi (Washington Spirit / USA)
  • MIYAZAWA Hinata (Manchester United / ENG)
  • MOMIKI Yuka (Leicester City / ENG)
  • NAGANO Fuka (Liverpool FC / ENG)
  • SEIKE Kiko (Brighton & Hove Albion / ENG)***
  • TANIKAWA Momoko (Bayern Munich / GER)

Forwards (3):

  • CHIBA Remina (Eintracht Frankfurt / GER)
  • TANAKA Mina (Utah Royals / USA)
  • UEKI Riko (West Ham United / ENG)

*uncapped
**Ishikawa was withdrawn on February 17th. The next day, Moriya was called in as a replacement.
***Seike was withdrawn late on February 18th and replaced by Matsukubo.

Detailed Roster

Table 1: Japan WNT 2025 SheBelieves Cup Roster — Basic Statistics

S#  PLAYER            P.     D.O.B.       HEIGHT        AGE    WWC27   CAPS   GOALS   START%
12  HIRAO Chika       GK   12/31/1996   5'8" (173cm)   28.14   30.48      9       —    88.9%
23  OKUMA Akane       GK   09/15/2004   5'8" (173cm)   20.43   22.77      0       —      —
 1  YAMASHITA Ayaka   GK   09/29/1995   5'7" (170cm)   29.40   31.73     76       —    97.4%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13  KITAGAWA Hikaru   DF   05/10/1997   5'5" (164cm)   27.78   30.12     14       2    78.6%
 6  KOGA Toko         DF   01/06/2006   5'8" (173cm)   19.12   21.46     12       1    66.7%
 4  KUMAGAI Saki      DF   10/17/1990   5'8" (173cm)   34.35   36.68    157       3    98.1%
 3  MINAMI Moeka      DF   12/07/1998   5'8" (172cm)   26.21   28.54     57       4    98.2%
21  MORIYA Miyabi     DF   08/22/1996   5'5" (164cm)   28.50   30.84     15       2    46.7%
 5  TAKAHASHI Hana    DF   02/19/2000   5'7" (169cm)   25.00   27.34     31       3    67.7%
 2  TAKARADA Saori    DF   12/27/1999   5'7" (170cm)   25.15   27.49     22       1    45.5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15  FUJINO Aoba       MF   01/27/2004   5'4" (162cm)   21.07   23.41     26       8    84.6%
17  HAMANO Maika      MF   05/09/2004   5'5" (165cm)   20.79   23.12     16       4    18.8%
14  HASEGAWA Yui      MF   01/29/1997   5'2" (157cm)   28.06   30.40     90      20    84.4%
18  HAYASHI Honoka    MF   05/19/1998   5'2" (157cm)   26.76   29.10     36       2    58.3%
 8  MATSUKUBO Manaka  MF   07/28/2004   5'1" (155cm)   20.57   22.90      0       —      —
20  MIURA Narumi      MF   07/03/1997   5'1" (156cm)   27.64   29.97     32       1    75.0%
 7  MIYAZAWA Hinata   MF   11/28/1999   5'3" (160cm)   25.23   27.57     42       9    64.3%
22  MOMIKI Yuka       MF   04/09/1996   5'0" (153cm)   28.87   31.21     41      14    39.0%
10  NAGANO Fuka       MF   03/09/1999   5'3" (160cm)   25.95   28.29     45       1    80.0%
 8  SEIKE Kiko        MF   08/08/1996   5'5" (166cm)   28.54   30.87     27       7    33.3%
16  TANIKAWA Momoko   MF   05/07/2005   5'6" (168cm)   19.79   22.13      8       2    12.5%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19  CHIBA Remina      FW   04/30/1999   5'4" (162cm)   25.81   28.15     16       4    25.0%
11  TANAKA Mina       FW   04/28/1994   5'5" (164cm)   30.82   33.16     86      39    68.6%
 9  UEKI Riko         FW   07/30/1999   5'5" (164cm)   25.56   27.90     40      12    35.0%
--- WITHDRAWN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
––  ISHIKAWA Rion     DF   07/04/2003   5'8" (172cm)   21.63   23.97      9       0    66.7%
––  SEIKE Kiko        MF   08/08/1996   5'5" (166cm)   28.54   30.87     27       7    33.3%

Key:

  • S# = Shirt Number, per press release
  • P. = Playing Position, per press release
  • D.O.B. = Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy format)
  • Age = Calculated age as of the first match of the SheBelieves Cup (February 20)
  • WWC27 = Calculated age as of the first day of the 2027 FIFA WWC (June 24, 2027)
  • Caps = Official senior appearances for the Japan WNT
  • Goals = Official senior goals scored for the Japan WNT
  • Start% = percent of appearances that the player was in the starting line-up

Notes and Notables

Formation Notes

Although Japan primarily utilized what was effectively a five-back system during the 2024 Summer Olympics (example video still), at the press conference for the roster announcement Nielsen indicated that he will likely use a four-back system, specifically either a 4-4-2 and/or a 4-3-3 (Japanese news article).

Nielsen also discussed trying different combinations of players, which is to be expected, but noted the versatility of the players selected, so some could be utilized in positions that have not been used before, or at least recently, at the national team level (jfa.jp news item in Japanese).

Nils Nielsen: Success with Denmark, including a victory over the USWNT

Prior to being hired as the head coach of the Japan Women’s National Team in December 2024 (JFA news item), Nielsen’s first senior head coaching job was with the Denmark WNT, from August 2013 to August 2017 During that time, Nielsen compiled a record of 26 wins, 12 draws and 19 losses (DBU coach profile) and led Denmark to a historic second-place finish at the 2017 Women’s EURO.

Among those 26 wins is one of the most significant friendly matches in the history of the United States Women’s National Team: The third group match of the 2014 Algarve Cup, which was a 5:3 victory for Denmark (archived U.S. Soccer match report, archived U.S. Soccer quote sheet, DBU match page). The Danes’ five goals was and still is the most goals ever allowed by the USWNT in an official match (page 149 of the 2024 USWNT Media Guide).

After that match, the USWNT’s head coach at the time, Tom Sermanni, who is now Australia’s interim head coach, would be on the sidelines for just two more USWNT matches. The loss to Denmark capped off the USA’s worst group stage performance at an Algarve Cup, as the USWNT only mustered a point in the two previous matches (an opening 1:1 draw against Japan and then a 0:1 loss to Sweden in the second match).

After briefly serving as an assistant coach with the China Under-20 WNT, Nielsen was the head coach of the Switzerland WNT from January 2019 to December 2022 (SFV press release). During that time, Switzerland qualified for the COVID-delayed 2021 Women’s EURO, but did not advance from their group.

From May 2023 to June 2024, Nielsen was the Director of Football for the Manchester City women’s team. He stepped down after one season in order to pursue coaching jobs. (Man City press release, The Telegraph article)

Nielsen’s Coaching Staff

Serving as assistant coaches under Nielsen are Michihisa Kano (JFA profile), who was most recently the head coach of Japan’s squad at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, and Australian Leah Blayney (JFA profile), who was also a head coach at the 2024 FIFA U-20 WWC for her native country. The Goalkeeper coach Toshihiro Nishiiri is the only remaining coach from Futoshi Ikeda’s staff for the Paris 2024 Olympics (jfa.jp).

During her playing days, Blayney spent several years in the United States, first at the NCAA level with Auburn (2006), followed by Central Connecticut State (2007 to 2009), and later at the pro level, in the defunct Women’s Professional Soccer league, with the Boston Breakers in 2011. Additionally, she played in the Women’s Premier Soccer League with the Boston Aztec.

At the time of her departure from Football Australia, Blayney was also serving as in interim head coach under Australia’s current interim head coach, Tom Sermanni (press release).

League Distribution

Note: This section has been updated and reflects the withdraw of Ishikawa, who plays in Japan’s WE League, and the addition of Moriya, who is now an NWSL player, as well as the the withdraw of Seike, who plays in the WSL and has been replaced by Matsukubo, who plays in the NWSL.

Just under half of the players (11 out of 23) currently ply their trade in England. However, one of those players, Saki Kumagai, is with a second-division team, the London City Lionesses.

The full list of leagues represented:

  • WSL (England): 10 players
  • NWSL (USA): 4
  • WE League (Japan): 3
  • Frauen-Bundesliga (Germany): 2
  • Damallsvenskan (Sweden): 1
  • Serie A Femminile (Italy): 1
  • Vrouwen Eredivisie (Netherlands): 1
  • Women’s Championship (England): 1

The low number of domestic-based players is a continuation of a trend that started after the 2019 FIFA WWC:

  • 2011 FIFA WWC: 19 domestic-based players out of 23 total players
  • 2012 Olympics: 15 of 18 (with alternates: 18 of 22)
  • 2015 FIFA WWC: 17 of 23
  • 2016 Olympics: n/a (Japan did not qualify)
  • 2019 FIFA WWC: 19 of 23
  • 2021 Olympics: 16 of 22
  • 2023 FIFA WWC: 14 of 23
  • 2024 Olympics: 9 of 22

Following the Tokyo 2024 Olympics, five of the nine domestic players from that tournament moved overseas during the 2024 Summer transfer window, and a sixth, Miyabi Moriya, who was called up as a late replacement for this friendly tournament, transferred to Angel City in January 2025.

Players with NWSL Connections

In addition to the Washington Spirit’s Narumi Miura, who was with the North Carolina Courage during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, current Utah Royals forward Mina Tanaka, Angel City’s Miyabi Moriya, who was signed in January, and Manaka Matsukubo of the North Carolina Courage, three other players have connections to NWSL clubs.

Former NWSL Players:

  • Yuka Momiki spent two years on the books of OL Reign in 2020 and 2021 and had appearances in both years’ Challenge Cups, but did not feature in any regular season matches. During her time with the Reign she was loaned to Linköping FC, which signed her outright in 2022.
  • Fuka Nagano was with the North Carolina Courage during the second half of the 2022 season, before being traded to her current team, Liverpool.
  • Saori Takarada played the 2021 season for the Washington Spirit. At the start of 2022, she was acquired by Linköping FC.

NWSL Players Not Called Up

As mentioned above, North Carolina Courage midfielders Manaka Matsukubo and Shinomi Koyama, along with Angel City defender Miyabi Moriya, were not originally named to Japan’s SheBelieves Cup roster this year. Subsequently, both Moriya and Matsukubo have been added as replacements for withdrawn players from other leagues.

Another NWSL player not on the 23-player roster is 24-year-old Angel City forward/midfielder Jun Endo (JFA profile), who is still recovering from the ACL injury to her left knee that she suffered in February 2024 (Angel City press release). Based on a recent Instagram video post, her recovery seems to be going well. Endo had been a regular call-up, including for the February 2024 window (JFA roster release), until her injury.

Additionally, 28-year-old Portland Thorns midfielder Hina Sugita (JFA profile) has not been called up since the 2024 SheBelieves Cup. Sugita and Endo were on Japan’s squads for the 2023 FIFA WWC, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and 2019 FIFA WWC.

Japan Football Association press releases:

English-language roster release: “Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) squad & schedule – 2025 SheBelieves Cup (2/17-28@USA)” (5-Feb-2025)

Japanese-language write-up on press conference: “2025 SheBelieves Cupに臨む、なでしこジャパンのメンバー23人を発表” (“Nadeshiko Japan announces 23-woman squad for 2025 SheBelieves Cup”) (6-Feb-2025)

Also, the JFA website has an English-language roster page with a headshot for each player as well as a link to their English-language profile page.