Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Utah Royals W · Olympics Women - Qualification Asia · Defender · #21 · Japan · 29 yrs
M. Moriya plays as a defender for Utah Royals W. M. Moriya is a represents Japan, 29 years old, defender, currently at Utah Royals W. M. Moriya wears shirt number 21 for Utah Royals W. M. Moriya was born in Kamimaki, Japan on 1996-08-22. M. Moriya is 164 cm tall and weighs 54 kg. M. Moriya's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Olympics Women - Qualification Asia, WE League, Olympics Women, Olympics Women - Qualification Asia, and other leagues. M. Moriya's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore M. Moriya season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | - |  Angel City W |  Utah Royals W |
| 2025-02-14 | - |  INAC Kobe Leonessa W | Angel City W |
| 2025-02-14 | - | — | Angel City W |
Season intelligence
Profile as Defender: finisher. Archetype: Clinical forward.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
Japan's World Cup journey came to an end at the hands of Brazil, but Hajime Moriyasu is confident his team will bounce back stronger. The post Moriyasu: Japan closing in on elite nations despite World Cup exit appeared first on SoccerNews.
Why is Takefusa Kubo not starting for Japan vs Brazil today? Get the official injury update on the Real Sociedad star at the 2026 World Cup knockout stage. The highly anticipated Round of 32 clash between Japan and Brazil at Houston Stadium features a massive tactical missing piece for the Samurai Blue. Takefusa Kubo, the creative engine and Real Sociedad playmaker, has been left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s starting lineup for this do-or-die knockout match. The definitive reason behind his omission is a lingering left-knee injury. The 25-year-old midfielder originally sustained the injury during Japan’s intensely physical tournament-opening draw against the Netherlands, forcing him to miss the subsequent group-stage matches against Tunisia and Scotland. Kubo’s absence compounds an already devastating medical crisis for Japan. The Samurai Blue arrived in North America completely stripped of their core leadership group, with key stars Kaoru Mitoma, Takumi Minamino, and veteran captain Wataru Endo all ruled out of the tournament due to severe pre-camp injuries. Projected Recovery Time: When Will Kubo Return? Because this knee injury involves a bone bruise and localized swelling rather than structural ligament damage, Kubo’s 2026 World Cup campaign is not officially over. Neither the player nor the Japan Football Association (JFA) have locked in a rigid medical timetable, opting instead to monitor his progress day by day. If the Samurai Blue can orchestrate an upset against Brazil without him, the medical staff is circling Friday, July 3, or Saturday, July 4 as a realistic target window for his return. This timeline would make him available for a potential Round of 16 appearance, giving his knee the critical rest required to clear the remaining inflammation and handle full-contact training. Coach Hajime Moriyasu’s Verdict There was a late surge of optimism in the Japanese camp just 24 hours before kickoff. On Sunday, June 28, Kubo was cleared by the medical staff to return to light group training for the first time since the opening matchday. Heavily taped up, the winger even expressed confidence to local media, stating he felt “in a good state.” However, manager Hajime Moriyasu opted for maximum caution during his pre-match press conference, choosing protectiveness over rushing his star asset back into an intense environment against a physical side like Brazil: “I’m hoping for a speedy recovery and he’s doing everything he can to pick up his conditioning, [but] he will not play in the Brazil game.” Japan’s head coach Hajime Moriyasu (Getty Images). While Kubo has progressed enough to potentially earn a highly restricted, emergency seat on the substitutes’ bench, he lacks the competitive match fitness and tactical sharpness required to handle the tracking and defensive work rate demanded by the starting eleven. Tactical Adjustments: Who Fills the Void? Kubo’s absence forces a structural adjustment in Moriyasu’s transition blueprint. To compensate for the loss of Kubo’s elite half-space progression, the Samurai Blue will lean heavily on the technical versatility of Ritsu Doan. The tactical priority shifts toward maintaining a hyper-compact midfield block designed to disrupt Brazil’s passing channels before launching rapid counters through the wings.
Japan booked their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup via a 1-1 draw with Sweden, who also qualified for the last 32. The post Moriyasu: Japan want to inspire Asian teams with World Cup display appeared first on SoccerNews.
Thank goodness this is Dallas and not Gijón. There was ultimately no disgrace in a draw that served everyone, even if one might have forgiven Graham Potter and Hajime Moriyasu for shaking hands at half-time. At that point most onlookers may have fancied calling it all off too but a much sparkier second half served up two moments to cherish and left Sweden, who had risked throwing such a promising campaign away, certain of a spot in the last 32.Japan were already confident of theirs and, as runners-up, will face Brazil in Houston on Monday. It is a mouthwatering knockout clash that surely has no business being contested so early in the competition. In fairness a lower finish might have served them no better and they can be spurred by the precedent set by recent history. Back in October, after all, they thrillingly beat Carlo Ancelotti’s side in Tokyo. They will feel able to do it again and there was no point risking the third-place lottery here. Continue reading...
In the final group match at the 2026 World Cup for Japan, Takefusa Kubo isn't ready to play against Sweden. After just one match at the 2026 World Cup, Japan have already had to deal with an injury concern, as Takefusa Kubo is not playing against Sweden after also missing the victory over Tunisia. The reason Kubo is out of the lineup is a knee injury he sustained in Japan’s draw against the Netherlands, when he had to leave the field in the 75th minute because he could not continue. While Kubo has not been ruled out for the rest of the competition, his chances of returning are diminishing as the level of the opponents increases. The attacking midfielder will not be on the bench either. Hajime Moriyasu on the group A place in the next round is not secured for any of these teams, but Japan are certainly close with their 4 points. For Hajime Moriyasu, this match is of great importance because Japan are not only looking to finish in the top two spots in the group. Moriyasu wants to win the group (Stacy Revere/Getty Images) The manager explained in his press conference how important it would be for Japan to win the group. Not only would it allow them to avoid Brazil, but it would also mean returning to a city like Monterrey, which they already know. Moriyasu said: “We had a pre-tournament training camp there, we played against Tunisia there, and the players have already experienced the atmosphere of the stadium as well as the pitch conditions and how the venue works. So being able to play in a place we’re already familiar with is definitely an advantage.” Moriyasu on Sweden Sweden’s performances have been very different in their two matches, first winning 5-1 against Tunisia before losing 5-1 to the Netherlands. Even with the issues they have shown, Moriyasu sees a strong opponent in front of Japan. Moriyasu said: “Sweden are a very strong side. They’re solid in defense and quick in attack. It won’t be an easy match. First and foremost, we need to focus on winning. I hope our defenders enjoy coming up against world-class strikers like Isak and Gyökeres.”
Despite missing Wataru Endo and Takefusa Kubo, Japan edged close to the World Cup knockout stages with a comfortable win over Tunisia. The post Moriyasu lauds Japan resilience after injury-hit World Cup campaign appeared first on SoccerNews.
Hervé Renard’s Eagles of Carthage have been sent packing from the World Cup thanks to a masterclass from the Samurai BlueChanges for Japan too with Tomiyasu and Itakura stiffening the back three, and Ito and Tanaka coming into the front three. Kubo misses out through injury and the lively playmaker is a big loss to a side already missing Minamino and Mitoma.Expect the same 3-4-3 structure that has served Moriyasu well in recent months as he has built Japan from a side capable of dominating Asia to one equipped to handle the rest of the world. Continue reading...
A huge player missing the next match of the 2026 World Cup is Takefusa Kubo, who isn't playing against Tunisia. Just one match into the 2026 World Cup, Japan are already making an injury change in the lineup as Takefusa Kubo isn’t playing against Tunisia. The reason behind Kubo not playing in this match is a knee injury he sustained in Japan’s draw against the Netherlands. It was in an action that left him down in the 75th minute of action, being unable to continue as he was replaced last Sunday. Kubo’s injury left Japan very worried as the issues have been piling up lately, with the team missing some huge names for them like Takumi Minamino or Kaoru Mitoma before the competition. This was also the case with team captain Wataru Endo, who had to be replaced from the final list. Kubo’s future While there were some concerns around Kubo’s future in the competition, Japan seem confident there are going to welcome the talented player back soon. Coming back against Sweden in the third match isn’t out of the question yet. Kubo got injured against the Netherlands last Sunday (Francois Nel/Getty Images) The fixture does not help Japan very much as they are one of the teams that had to travel between countries during the groups round. After presenting themselves in Dallas, Japan now had to travel to Mexico for the Tunisia match before returning to their first city. This made it easier to see that Kubo is not going to even be on the bench because he didn’t even travel with the team. Instead, the left-footed player stayed in the team’s facilities in Nashville recovering properly to gain his best form. Hajime Moriyasu’s view on the Tunisia match This was a hit for the team as they rely on Kubo’s creativity to produce goal chances. For manager Hajime Moriyasu, this Tunisia represents a threat to them even after they lost 5-1 against Sweden. That made their Federation fire Sabri Lamouchi to hire Herve Renard, which could be a factor for Japan. Moriyasu said: “Tunisia had a change of manager and will come out fighting with extremely high motivation, desperate to redeem the defeat from the first game in order to progress from the group stage. We must not be defensive against such a mentality and must be prepared to make the effort to win the match.”
Why isn't Wataru Endo playing for Japan at the 2026 World Cup? Here is the heartbreaking reason the Samurai Blue captain is missing the tournament. Japan’s preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were rocked by a massive hurdle just days before their tournament kicked off in North America. Wataru Endo, the team’s regular captain and defensive anchor, is missing the entire tournament due to an injury. The Samurai Blue are navigating their group stage campaign without the heart and soul of their midfield. The omission is an incredibly bitter pill to swallow for Japanese soccer fans. Endo was expected to lead his nation into battle on the world’s biggest stage. Instead, a brutal combination of timing and a race against the clock has left the midfield general on the sidelines. The final decision came directly from the manager after months of hard rehabilitation. Why isn’t Wataru Endo playing for Japan at the 2026 World Cup? Wataru Endo is not playing in the 2026 World Cup due to a severe foot injury suffered during his club campaign with Liverpool. Back in February, the 33-year-old midfielder severely damaged his Lisfranc ligament during a domestic match. The injury required intensive corrective surgery, threatening his tournament hopes from the start. Endo opted for an aggressive recovery timeline and was even named to Japan’s initial 26-man roster. He made a brief appearance in a May 31 warmup friendly against Iceland. However, continued physical discomfort hampered his progress. Just three days before Japan’s opening group match against the Netherlands, head coach Hajime Moriyasu made the tough tactical decision to replace him, knowing Endo could not withstand the physical demands of consecutive matches. Wataru Endo’s shock international retirement The injury setback brought an abrupt and emotional end to Endo’s time with the national team. Upon leaving the training camp, the veteran officially announced his retirement from international soccer. Endo leaves behind a brilliant 11-year legacy with the Samurai Blue, finishing his international career with 73 caps and four goals. He was the emotional heartbeat of the team that famously shocked Germany and Spain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In a statement on social media, Endo expressed his immense pride in captaining the team and backed them to succeed without him. He urged fans to keep believing in the team’s ultimate ambition of one day winning the tournament.
Impressive results have fuelled belief that Hajime Moriyasu’s side can not just survive against the best but beat them tooThis article is part of the Guardian’s 2026 World Cup Experts’ Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 48 countries who qualified. theguardian.com is running previews from three countries each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 11 June. Continue reading...
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