For a national team, selection is never only about form. It is also about image, standards and what a shirt is meant to represent. That is why the argument around Sano has become so awkward for Japan, a side usually admired for stability, discipline and a clear football identity.
The report says Sano was arrested in Tokyo in July 2024 and later released, with prosecutors reportedly deciding not to pursue the case after a settlement. In pure football terms, that may have cleared a path back into contention. In the court of public opinion, it plainly did not.
Supporters appear split into two clear camps.
That tension is not unique to Japan. International football has long wrestled with where to draw the line between legal resolution and public responsibility. Coaches often prefer to talk about tactics and balance, but cases like this drag selection into a different arena entirely.
That is the uncomfortable part for Japan. This is one of Asia’s strongest national teams, a country that has reached every World Cup since 1998, and the usual pre-tournament conversation should be about ambition, structure and how far the side can go.
Instead, Sano’s place appears to have become a running subplot.
The next squad announcement will be watched closely, not just for who makes it, but for what message Japan wants to send. Whether the coaching staff address the issue directly or try to let football do the talking, this story looks unlikely to disappear quietly before the World Cup.