Japan defender Nakayama to miss World Cup due to injury

Japan defender Yuta Nakayama will miss the World Cup in Qatar after being ruled out for the rest of the season due to an Achilles injury, his English club Huddersfield Town said on Thursday.

Nakayama, who has been capped 17 times, was named in Hajime Moriyasu's 26-man squad on Tuesday for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.

Huddersfield said Nakayama would require surgery after damaging his Achilles tendon in Wednesday's 2-0 home defeat by Sunderland in the second tier Championship.

"We are all devastated that Yuta will be unable to join up with Japan for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is an experience he had completely earned," Huddersfield coach Mark Fotheringham said.

Japan, who have never gone beyond the last 16 at a World Cup, kick off their campaign on Nov. 23 against Germany. They will also face Spain and Costa Rica in Group E.