Mao Itamura's Liverpool Debut Delayed by U20 World Cup

Mao Itamura’s Liverpool start will have to wait.

The club’s new attacking signing has been called up by Japan for the U20 World Cup in Poland, which kicks off on September 5. It’s a major stage for one of the brightest young forwards in the women’s game – and a scheduling headache for Liverpool.

Group Stage Matches

Japan have been drawn into Group D and open against New Zealand on September 6, then face USA on September 9 before rounding off the group against Italy on September 12. If Japan progress, Itamura’s stay in Poland will stretch deeper into September, pushing her Liverpool debut even further down the road.

For the Reds, the timing could hardly be tighter. The 2026-27 Women’s Super League season begins on the same day the tournament starts, and the international calendar for the women’s game does not line up with the U20 World Cup dates. That almost certainly rules Itamura out of at least Liverpool’s opening WSL fixture.

Japan know exactly what they’re getting. Itamura was central to their U20 Women’s Asian Cup triumph in April, striking three times across the tournament as Japan went on to lift the trophy with a 1-0 win over North Korea in the final.

Liverpool signed a rising star. Japan are taking a proven match-winner. The question now is how long the club will have to wait before Anfield finally sees her in red.