The Japan Football Association has decided to move up by a week its announcement of the 23-man World Cup squad to the week of May 10, senior JFA official Hiromi Hara said Friday.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada initially planned to announce the squad on either May 17 or 18 after the 12th round of first-division matches in the J. League, but the latest decision is aimed at giving players more rest soon after the league enters the World Cup break.
Japan has been drawn in a tough first-round Group E against Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in its fourth successive World Cup finals appearance in South Africa.