Call-up sets up Leeds United's potential first World Cup head-to-head as Hull City man misses out
Two Leeds United players could face one another at a World Cup for the first time after both were named in their country's 26-man squad.
But Hull City's Yu Hirakawa has missed out on the tournament in North America.
Hirakawa joined Hull on loan from Bristol City in the mid-season transfer window hoping to enhance his chances of playing for Japan at the tournament, but injury has put paid to that.
Leeds midfielder Ao Tanaka has got the nod.
He is the second Leeds player to receive a call-up, setting up a possible game against Gabriel Gudmundsson in Arlington after the left-back was picked by Sweden.
Japan face Graham Potter’s side in their final group game on June 25, by which time they will have already placed the Netherlands on June 14 and Tunisia (21st).
Although Kalvin Phillips was on the England bench for the 2022 group game against a USA side featuring Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson, he never came off it.
Phillips and Daniel James were briefly on the field at the same time when Leeds played Wales, but the latter was on loan at Fulham.
An injury to Ilia Gruev has helped Tanaka to establish himself in Leeds' first-choice XI, starting the last seven matches in all competitions. Before that, he had only started 10 in total.
A February ankle injury to Hirakawa did not help the winger's cause.
It had initially been feared that the injury would end his season, but he was able to return in April.
Since then he has been in the matchday squad for five of the Tigers' last six games but has only played 46 minutes plus stoppage time, all as a substitute.
Hirakawa only made his international debut last year, and probably needed a strong finish to the season to have a chance of selection.
A hamstring injury has also denied Brighton and Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma a place in the squad.
Liverpool's Wataru Endo and Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada are included.