Kudo Takefusa's Knee Injury Casts Shadow Over Japan's World Cup Campaign Real Sociedad, the Spanish club that represents Japanese forward Kudo Takefusa, issued a statement confirming the 22-year-old's knee injury is minor and that he is expected to recover in time for the 2026 North America-Central America World Cup. The club emphasized that Kudo's focus on localized treatment is the optimal path to full recovery, with officials expressing confidence in his ability to return for the tournament. The injury occurred during Japan's first Group F match against the Netherlands on June 15. In the 27th minute of the second half, Kudo collided with Denzel Dumfries of the Netherlands and suffered a left knee injury. Despite standing briefly after the collision, he was unable to continue and was marked with an X on the field before being substituted. He left the stadium in a wheelchair following the match. Although Japan managed to secure a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, Kudo's injury has raised concerns about his availability for the team's next crucial fixture. Japan's national team, led by head coach Hajime Moriyasu, faces Tunisia in their second Group F match on June 21 at Estadio Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico. The match, scheduled for 1 p.m. Korea time, will be pivotal in determining Japan's position in the group. However, Kudo's absence has added uncertainty, as he had started the opening match and was a key attacking threat. Real Sociedad's sports director, Eric Bretos, clarified the injury's severity through the club's official account, stating that Kudo "slightly injured his knee" and would miss "a few matches." While the injury is not considered serious, Bretos warned that even minor issues could impact performance in the short tournament.#japan #real_sociedad #estadio_monterrey #kudo_takefusa #hajime_moriyasu
