Takumi Minamino Injury: Japanese Midfielder Ruled Out of 2026 World Cup?

The Japanese football community is left in shock due to the revelations that may alter their strategy for the next global tournament. Only six months are left before the first whistle goes off on the American continent, but there are revelations that a serious Japan Football Team injury has prevented one of their best playmaking talents from taking the field. Takumi Minamino, the star player of AS Monaco, known as the backbone of the Samurai Blue attacking formation, has a deadline that he may not meet.

Takumi Miamino Injury: What Happened to Japan Midfielder?

Takumi Minamino injury occurred on Sunday in a Coupe de France round of 64 match against Auxerre. In the 36th minute of the first half, Minamino went down after a challenge for the ball and immediately clutched his left knee in visible agony.

The medical diagnosis indeed confirmed the worst-case scenario: an ACL tear. This Japan football team injury is notorious for the relatively long path to recovery. AS Monaco subsequently released an official statement confirming the tear, effectively ending his club season and casting dark shadows over his international future for 2026.

Recovery Timeline: Will Minamino Miss the World Cup?

Generally, the rehabilitation period for an ACL tear takes around 8 to 10 months. With the 2026 World Cup scheduled to start on June 11, 2026, the simple arithmetic does not work in favour of this player. News of the injury to Takumi Minamino, one of the most prominent Japanese footballers, will keep the star midfielder out of the World Cup lineup for Japan, as he is expected to recover between August and October. Even if he shows the world what they call "a miracle" recovery, getting World Cup experience surely will be out of the question for this player due to match fitness.

Japan's Road to 2026 WC: Form and Hopes

Before this setback, Japan was riding a wave of unprecedented momentum. Their passage to the 2026 World Cup has been a textbook example of consistency, as they were the first country not hosting the World Cup to qualify for North America.
Japan dominated the AFC qualifiers, winning all six second-round matches without conceding a goal. Despite a tough third round against Australia and Saudi Arabia, they clinched their spot in the 2026 tournament on March 20 with a 2-0 win over Bahrain. Moriyasu’s side finished the cycle as Asia’s top-ranked team, capped by a 6-0 thrashing of Indonesia.

While the Takumi Minamino injury is a significant blow, Japan’s depth is at an all-time high. Players like Takefusa Kubo and Kaoru Mitoma will now be expected to shoulder even more of the creative burden. However, Minamino’s experience—often wearing the captain’s armband in Wataru Endo’s absence—is something that cannot be easily replaced in a Japan World Cup squad aiming for its first-ever quarterfinal appearance.