Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma will miss this summer's World Cup after being omitted from Japan's 26-man squad. The 28-year-old suffered a hamstring injury during Brighton's 3-0 victory over Wolves and will also sit out the club's final Premier League matches against Leeds and Manchester United.

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu confirmed the squad on Friday, describing Mitoma as a "major presence" that the team has lost. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler emphasized the need for patience in Mitoma's recovery, stating there is currently no clear timeline for his return to action.

Japan enters Group F facing the Netherlands on June 14, followed by Tunisia and Sweden. The squad includes Liverpool's Wataru Endo, Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada, and Leeds' Ao Tanaka among others. The expanded 48-team tournament begins June 11 across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

This injury represents a significant setback for both player and country, ending Mitoma's hopes of featuring in what would have been his first World Cup appearance with the senior national team.