Kubo Takefusa Marks Second World Cup with Confidence Kubo Takefusa, the 25-year-old Japanese forward playing for Real Sociedad, is set to compete in his second FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that marks a shift from his debut four years ago. The Japanese national team’s preparations for the 2026 North American World Cup have progressed with closed training sessions at Nashville Base Camp in Tennessee, where the squad continued their regimen after an initial 15-minute open session on June 13 (Korea Standard Time). Following the training, the team relocated to Dallas, Texas, the venue for their opening Group F match against the Netherlands on June 15. Kubo, who was the youngest member of Japan’s squad during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, reflected on his growth since then. In an interview with Japan’s Sports Hochi, he described the World Cup as a “special” experience, noting that his first tournament was overwhelming due to the unfamiliarity of the event. However, he emphasized that his mindset has evolved, expressing confidence that playing in the World Cup is now “natural” for him. “I had a feeling that it was my first time at the last World Cup,” he said, contrasting his current composure with his earlier nerves. The Japanese team’s goal for the 2026 tournament is to secure a place in the knockout stages, with their first match against the Netherlands serving as the critical starting point. Kubo acknowledged the psychological weight of the opening game, stating that “three points in the first game are important” despite the similarity in stakes to later matches. His comments highlight the pressure on the team to perform from the outset, a challenge compounded by Japan’s history of reaching the World Cup finals for seven consecutive tournaments since 1998.#real_sociedad #2026_world_cup #sports_hochi #kubo_takefusa #japan_national_team
