Japan's Ijiri Eyes U-20 Women's World Cup Glory

The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Poland 2026™ is set to kick off on 5 September, with 24 nations vying for the title in the tournament's 12th edition. Among the contenders is Japan, a team with a rich history in the competition and a coach determined to lead them back to the top.

Akira Ijiri, who guided Japan to the AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup title in April with a 1-0 victory over Korea DPR, is preparing for his first World Cup as a coach. The 56-year-old is eager to showcase the qualities that define Japanese football and the Nadeshiko spirit.

First World Cup, High Ambitions

Ijiri expressed his anticipation for the tournament, stating, "This will be my first World Cup, so of course I can’t wait for it to kick off. We’re looking forward to showing everyone the work we’ve put in, and we want to do so as soon as possible. I’m honestly counting down the days. We’re raring to go."

He emphasized the importance of technical skill, tactical understanding, organization, and commitment to attack and defend as a unit. "These are the qualities that have been built up bit by bit by past squads, and they define Japanese football and the Nadeshiko spirit," he added.

Prioritizing 'Grit' and Single-Mindedness

While acknowledging the traditional strengths of Japanese football, Ijiri highlighted a specific aspect of the Nadeshiko spirit he wants to prioritize: single-mindedness. "It’s about working continuously, humbly and earnestly, never letting our heads drop, and competing right until the end," he explained. "Our style is to play on the front foot and look to be tenacious and relentless in winning the ball. If I were to describe it in just one word, I’d probably say 'grit'."

He hopes that even new fans will recognize this determination: "I want us to show so much grit that even fans who’ve never seen us before will watch it and get a clear sense of our single-minded determination."

Group D Challenges and Preparation

Japan have been drawn into Group D, a group Ijiri acknowledges as tough. However, he remains optimistic: "Frankly, I think we’ve got a really tough group. Nonetheless, we’re not being negative about it. It’s a rare opportunity to play against sides like these, and it’s a chance to grow as a team and as individuals."

He stressed the importance of focusing on the immediate task: "You have to play seven games if you want to win the tournament, so for now I’d like us to focus on being prepared for the opener with New Zealand."

Coaching Philosophy: Trust and Clear Communication

Ijiri, who has coached abroad in China and Vietnam, shared insights into his coaching philosophy. He emphasized building genuine connections with players, noting, "When I was a player – albeit that was over 30 years ago – I valued having a relationship of trust with my coaches. Players will know straight away whether or not their coach really has their best interests at heart."

His international experience taught him the value of precise communication, especially when working through interpreters. "There was a language barrier in both China and Vietnam, which meant that there was an interpreter between me and the players," he recalled. "I would give the interpreter a brief explanation of what I wanted to say, and they would translate it for the players. In short, I got into the habit of carefully organising everything I wanted to say before saying it."

He explained that this approach forces clarity: "When you talk through an interpreter, your words inevitably lose some of their impact. For that reason, you have to calmly and precisely express yourself by saying things like, 'There are three key points. Here’s what they are'. If I didn’t speak like that, the players wouldn’t get the message."

This ability to think in concrete terms has become a guiding principle: "Instead of speaking in abstract terms, I prioritise thinking about exactly what I want to say and how best to convey it. I think that the ability to think in those terms is something that I’ve gained from my experience coaching abroad. I still view it as one of my guiding principles and it’s definitely something that continues to inform my coaching."

Title Aspirations

Japan last won the U-20 Women's World Cup in 2018, and Ijiri is clear about his goal: "We want to win it, of course. We want to be the best in the world. This is what I’ve been impressing on the players since our very first team meeting back in February of last year and all of us, including the staff, are committed to achieving that goal."