{
  "id": 20123978,
  "title": "Japan can be world’s best, says outgoing coach Moriyasu",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/japan-can-be-worlds-best-says-outgoing-coach-moriyasu-20123978",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T05:44:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/11/15/japan-can-be-world-s-best-says-outgoing-coach-moriyasu"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hajime Moriyasu, Japan's longest-serving coach, announced his departure after a friendly match against Paraguay. Despite stepping down, Moriyasu remains optimistic about Japan's potential to become the world's best football nation. The Japanese team recently caused shock by defeating Brazil, a five-times world champions, 3-2 in a friendly match in Singapore. The victory came more than a year after Japan's first-ever friendly win against Brazil in Tokyo. Moriyasu praised the players' confidence and courage, stating that Japan can absolutely become the world's best in future World Cups. The Asian Football Confederation delayed the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia to December 2027 due to exceptional circumstances in the region. Moriyasu expressed his commitment to strive for wins and growth as he always has. Japan midfielder Ao Tanaka, who made an emotional return to the game after a frustrating World Cup, said he was calm but truly happy with the win.",
  "summary": "Japan shocked the five-times world champions 3-2 in a friendly in Singapore on Saturday, with substitute Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scoring an injury-time winner.",
  "key_points": [
    "Hajime Moriyasu departs as Japan's longest-serving coach.",
    "Japan defeats Brazil 3-2 in friendly match, shocking the football world.",
    "Moriyasu confident Japan can become world's best football nation."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Moriyasu’s departure marks the end of a long era for Japanese football, leaving a squad that now possesses the proven confidence to challenge the world's elite nations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Japan can be world's best, says outgoing coach Moriyasu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/japan-can-be-worlds-best-says-outgoing-coach-moriyasu",
        "published": "2026-11-15T02:16:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}