Liverpool's Mao Itamura Heads to U20 World Cup with Japan

Liverpool’s new attacking talent Mao Itamura will barely have time to unpack on Merseyside before heading to the global stage.

The forward has been called up by Japan for the U20 World Cup in Poland, which kicks off on September 5. She’ll line up in a competitive Group D, with Japan set to face New Zealand on September 6, USA on September 9, and Italy on September 12.

For Liverpool, the timing stings.

The 2026-27 Women’s Super League season begins on the same day the tournament starts, and the international calendar in the women’s game does not sync with the U20 World Cup. That almost certainly rules Itamura out of at least Liverpool’s opening league fixture, just as supporters were preparing to see what the new signing could bring to Matt Beard’s attack.

Japan, though, know exactly what they’re getting.

Itamura arrives off the back of a standout U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April, where she struck three times across the tournament and played a central role in Japan’s run to the title. They sealed the trophy with a 1-0 win over North Korea in the final, a performance that underlined the maturity and end product in her game.

Liverpool will have to wait a little longer for their first proper look at her in the WSL. Japan, on the other hand, are ready to lean on one of their most dangerous young forwards on the biggest youth stage of all.