Kubo Takefusa, wey be 25 years old and dey play for Real Sociedad, don ready for im second World Cup. Di mindset different from four years ago. Confidence don pass tension.
According to Japan “Sports Hochi,” di Japanese national soccer team continue dia training wit closed training afta di first 15 minutes of open training for Nashville Base Camp for Tennessee on June 13, Korea Standard Time. Afta training, Japan move to Dallas, di venue for di first group match.
Japan go face Netherlands for di first Group F match of di 2026 FIFA North American World Cup for Dallas Stadium on di 15th. Kubo na di youngest member of di Japanese national team for di 2022 Qatar World Cup four years ago. Di World Cup bin unfamiliar to Kubo at dat time. E different now.
According to Sports Hochi, Kubo tok, “I had a feeling that it was my first time at the last World Cup. Now I’ve become a player who can think it’s natural to play in the World Cup.” For di first 15 minutes of training released on dat day, Kubo show im soft ball touch as usual, Sports Hochi report. Im expression bin relaxed. E say im calm rather than nervous wen e board di bus heading to Dallas.
Japan set dia goal for dis tournament as “winning.” Di starting point na against Netherlands. Kubo sabi di importance of di first game. Earlier, e tok, “Three points in the first game and three points in the third game look the same, but psychologically, they are completely different. Three points in the first game are important.”
Japan first World Cup na di 1998 World Cup for France. Starting wit dat tournament, Japan don make di finals for seven consecutive times until di 2022 Qatar World Cup. North American World Cup na Japan eighth attempt at di finals. Japan pass di group stage for all three tournaments (2010, 2018 and 2022) wey mark di first match of di World Cup finals. Dis na why Kubo emphasize di importance of di first game.
Looking back for di last World Cup for Qatar, Kubo tok, “The World Cup is special. There is an atmosphere that only the World Cup has. It felt like a really big festival. Because it was my first World Cup, I was a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere.” E different dis time. Kubo add plenty experience not only for World Cup but also for di Spanish Primera Liga.
Kubo tok, “I think the United States is the best in the world for entertainment. We need to make sure we don’t get swept away by the atmosphere. There will also be neutral fans visiting the stadium. I want to get them on our side. If you show attractive soccer, it will be possible.”
Kubo now na di ace of di Japanese national team. Particularly, Kubo shoulders become heavier as Kaoru Mitoma fall due to injury. Howevah, Kubo show im composure. Attention dey focus on how Kubo, wey dem call “football genius” for Japan, go perform for im second World Cup.
