Brighton & Hove Albion manager, Fabian Hurzeler has raised serious doubts over Kaoru Mitoma’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the Japan winger suffered a hamstring injury that has ended his Premier League season prematurely.

The 27-year-old was forced off in the 58th minute of Brighton’s 3-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, clutching the back of his left thigh as he chased a ball before going down. He was subsequently seen leaving the stadium on crutches, a sight that sent alarm bells ringing across both club and country.

Speaking ahead of Brighton’s Sunday fixture at Leeds United, Hurzeler confirmed the winger will miss the club’s final two league games but was unable to offer any definitive assurance about his readiness for the World Cup. “Regarding the World Cup, I’m not sure yet. We’ll be in touch with the Japan federation,” the German coach said. He added that no fixed rehabilitation schedule could be given, stressing that patience would be essential in managing the injury.

“He will miss our two games. That is sad for Kaoru. He was in good form and had a big impact on our performances,” Hurzeler said.

The timing could hardly be more damaging for Japan. Their national team coach Hajime Moriyasu is expected to name his World Cup squad on Friday, and the uncertainty surrounding his most dynamic attacking player leaves him with an uncomfortable selection dilemma as the tournament’s June 11 start date draws near. Japan open their Group F campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 in Arlington, Texas, before facing Tunisia in Monterrey on June 20 and Sweden in Texas on June 25. The top two in the group progress automatically to the round of 32, with a third-place route also available.

Mitoma’s situation is compounded by the fact that Japan are already without another key attacking option. Forward Takumi Minamino has been ruled out of the tournament entirely after tearing his ACL while playing for Monaco back in December, leaving Moriyasu’s attacking department considerably thinner than he would have hoped heading into a World Cup on home soil for the Americas.

For Brighton, the loss of Mitoma is a considerable blow at a critical juncture. The south coast club sit seventh in the Premier League and are still chasing a European qualification spot with two matches remaining, meaning their push for a potentially historic continental berth must now be managed without their most influential wide player. Brighton and the Japan Football Association are expected to hold further discussions in the coming days as both parties wait on scan results to determine the full extent of the damage and map out a rearecovery.0th to recovery.