Takefusa Kubo to Make Second World Cup Start Against Netherlands
takefusa kubo will mark his second World Cup when Japan opens Group F against the Netherlands on June 15 at Dallas Stadium. The 25-year-old Real Sociedad midfielder said he feels more settled than he did four years ago, with Japan targeting three points in its first game.
Kubo’s World Cup mindset
Kubo said his outlook has changed since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, when he was the youngest member of the Japanese national team. He said, "I had a feeling that it was my first time at the last World Cup."
This time, he said, the setting feels more familiar. "Now I've become a player who can think it's natural to play in the World Cup." Japan’s goal for the tournament is to win it, and he has already put the opener at the center of that push.
"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," Kubo said.
Japan in Dallas
Japan trained behind closed doors after the first 15 minutes of open training at Nashville Base Camp in Tennessee on June 13 Korea Standard Time, then moved to Dallas. Kubo said he was calm rather than nervous when he got on the bus heading there.
He also said the World Cup carried a different feel from other tournaments. "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," he said, looking back on Qatar.
Japan first reached the World Cup finals in 1998 in France and has reached the finals seven consecutive times through the 2022 Qatar World Cup. This tournament is its eighth attempt, and the team has reached the group stage in 2010, 2018 and 2022.
Mitoma and Japan’s edge
Kaoru Mitoma’s injury has added weight to Kubo’s role, and he called on Japan to handle the setting in the United States with more control. "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," he said.
He also pointed to the crowd itself as part of the opening challenge. "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 said.
Japan’s opener now carries the cleanest possible target: beat the Netherlands, take the first three points, and start Group F from the front rather than chasing it.
