NEWS

Former Japan internationals Masashi Nakayama, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto and Toshiya Fujita on Wednesday were named ambassadors to Japan’s 2018/2022 World Cup Bid by the Japanese Bid Committee.

Miyamoto showed strong leadership with the national team in the 2002 World Cup, in which Japan reached the Round of 16 for the first time.
“I’d like to work hard as an ambassador to help us taste the moving and exciting moments of the World Cup again in Japan,” the former Salzburg player commented.
Nakayama, who scored Japan’s first goal in a World Cup tournament against Jamaica in 1998 in France, said: “I have a strong desire to make everybody experience the beauty of the game and the class of international football in Japan.”
“I hope we can bring Japan together by hosting the World Cup and show the rest of the world that we can put on a wonderful tournament here.”
Fujita, Nakayama’s former teammate at Jubilo Iwata, commented, “As a footballer, I’m glad to be involved with this World Cup bid campaign. I would like to do my best to bring the tournament to Japan and boost football throughout the country.”
With the addition of the three former Japan internationals, Japan now has 10 ambassadors to promote its campaign.

Ambassadors for Japan’s 2018/2022 World Cup Bids (in alphabetical order)
Dragan Stojkovic, Nagoya Grampus manager and former player
Guido Buchwald, former Urawa Reds player and manager
Ivica Osim, former Japan coach and JEF United Chiba manager
Makoto Hasebe, VfL Wolfsburg midfielder
Philippe Troussier, Japan’s 2002 World Cup coach and FC Ryukyu general manager
Shunsuke Nakamura, Japan and Espanyol midfielder
Zico, Japan’s 2006 World Cup coach
*Masashi Nakayama, Consadole Sapporo forward, former Japan team member
*Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, Vissel Kobe defender, former Japan team member
*Toshiya Fujita, Roasso Kumamoto midfielder, former Japan team member

* denotes new members.