As Japan is ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Ayase Ueda is one of their key names. By gaining strong experiences in European football, the 27-year-old has become a lethal face in front, while Japan’s success in the WC 2026 will be hugely dependent on him.
Key Facts: Who is Ayase Ueda?
Full Name: Ayase Ueda
Age: 27 years old (Born August 28, 1998)
Current Club: Feyenoord (Dutch Eredivisie)
Playing Position: Centre-Forward / Striker
Preferred Foot: Right
Playing Style and Tactical Abilities
Ayase Ueda is a highly focused striker with the ability to make a significant mark on the field.
Elite Spatial Awareness: Ayase is a master at defeating markers, while he has a strong ability to set up the perfect blind-side runs.
Incredible Leap: Despite not being among the tallest players, Ayase has a strong record of beating taller defenders in headed battles.
Two-Footed Finishing: While Ayase is a strong finisher, he becomes more dangerous due to having two-footed finishing ability.
International and Club Statistics
With his strong presence in European football, Ayase has developed his game a lot in recent times.
International Career: 39 caps / 16 goals for the Japan National Team.
Domestic Momentum (2025/2026 Season): With 25 goals, Feyenoord’s striker Ayase ended the 2025/26 season as the leading goal-scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie.
European and International Form: While Ayase has recorded three goals in his overall club career in European competition, including one Europa League goal in the 2025/26 season, he was Japan’s leading goal-scorer in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers (AFC) with eight goals.
Major Achievements and Trophies
(Club)
KNVB Cup: Winner in the 2023/24 season with Feyenoord
Johan Cruyff Shield: Winner in 2024 with Feyenoord
(Individual)
Japan Pro-Footballers Association Player of the Year: 2025
Eredivisie top scorer (Willy van der Kuijlen Trophy): 2025/26
Performances in Qualifying Stages for FIFA World Cup 2026
Starting the qualification with a hat-trick against Myanmar, following a brace against Syria, Ayase ended the two-round qualifications with the most goals for Japan after netting eight goals.
Appearances: 9
Goals Scored: 8
FIFA World Cup Experience
Ayashe was present at the FIFA World Cup 2022, where he played one match in the group stage.
Appearances: 1
Goals Scored: 0
The Untold Story: The University Student Who Shocked the Pros
Ayase Ueda started to love the game after watching his father score goals. Since childhood, he was known as a goal machine. During his senior year in high school, when his team was trailing by four goals at halftime, he scored four goals in the second half to secure a dramatic win for his team. During that year’s league play, he scored 33 goals in 18 games.
Ayase achieved a rare feat in 2019 when the university footballer earned a national team call-up for the Copa America 2019. Slowly but steadily, he has put the mark on the field, while he dominated early in the latest World Cup qualifiers.
