Japan head coach Akira Nishino is set to leave the national team at the end of July after his contract expires, President of the Japanese Football Association Kozo Tashima said on Thursday.
"We [the JFA] will not persuade Nishino to stay on the job, as his time as the manager for the Japan national team ends," Tashima was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.
Nishino said that his duty was to lead Japan during the World Cup and he had no intention of staying with the team after the tournament.
"I've coached the team with the thought that I will only do this until the end of the World Cup. I think I've fulfilled my duties," Nishino was quoted as saying by the agency.
READ MORE: Belgium Beats Japan 3-2 in Hard Fought FIFA World Cup Playoff Match
Earlier, the media reported that former Germany head coach Jurgen Klinsmann might replace Nishino.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the matches being played in 11 cities across Russia.