*This content was translated by AI.
As the Japanese national soccer team aims to win the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, there are also cold criticisms from the region. Of course, it's good to have a big dream, but in reality, the first quarterfinals in history are realistic, and in fact, even that will not be easy.
Japanese media outlet Kokoka predicted the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup of the Japanese national team led by Moriyasu on the 2nd, saying, "Coach Moriyasu is aiming to win the North American World Cup. "It's good to have a big dream, but I honestly don't think Japan, which has never crossed the round of 16 in seven previous World Cups, will be able to suddenly stand at the top of the world," he criticized.
The media said, "There are only eight countries that have experienced World Cup wins so far. Only three countries have won the tournament for the first time, not its own, he said. "Japan's realistic goal for North American World Cup will be to advance to the quarterfinals, the highest record ever. However, it should not be forgotten that even this will increase the number of participating countries from 32 to 48.
"Even if you pass the group league, the tournament starts with the round of 32. In other words, two wins are needed against world powers to reach the quarterfinals (for the first time in history). For Japan, which has never won a single tournament so far, it is a fairly high wall," he added. In fact, Japan succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 four times, including the 2002 Korea-Japan tournament, the 2010 South African tournament, the 2018 Russia tournament, and the 2022 Qatar tournament, but all of them lost the first round of the tournament and were eliminated.
Still, the Japanese national team is highly likely to pass the group stage. If Japan passes the North American World Cup group stage, it will be the third consecutive World Cup. Japan, ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings, was in Group F with the winner of the UEFA playoff pass, which includes the Netherlands, No. 41, Tunisia, and Ukraine (28th), Poland (31st), Sweden (43rd), and Albania (63rd).
The media said, "There is no clear underdog such as Quiraso or Cabo Verde, and although there is not much difference in skills between the teams, it is a great advantage for Japan to avoid South American teams with weak points or West African teams with strong physicality. The match against two European teams, which are likely to be a match between organization and strategy, and against Tunisia, which is an African team but has a European style, is a long shot. The Netherlands also said, "Even compared to Spain or Germany, which Japan defeated in the last tournament, it is a step lower."
"Of course, there are world-class players in positions led by Liverpool trio such as Virgil van Dijk, but the presence of coach Ronald Koeman, who cannot melt these talents with tactics and maximize them, is the biggest weakness of the Netherlands," he said. "On the contrary, we may have to be more wary of the second game with Tunisia. If we lose points against Tunisia, we will see a dark cloud in an instant over the group stage," he said.
"If it is a draw against the Netherlands and a victory against Tunisia, it is possible to pass the top of the group," said the media, "However, the difficulty level rises sharply from the tournament seeking the quarterfinals." In the round of 32, they will meet the first or second place in Group C. If things go smoothly, they will meet Brazil, which is ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings, or Morocco, which is ranked 11th. Neither team is an easy match for Japan to win. Brazil is the opponent Japan won in October last year, but they will not repeat the same mistake in the World Cup finals. Morocco, the first African team to reach the semifinals at the Qatar Games, is one of the most powerful countries in the world."
"It's bad luck to face one of the two teams from the round of 32, but if you aim to advance to the quarterfinals at least, this wall of a strong team is a task to overcome," he said. "Japan's current power is worth calling it the strongest in history." However, what has recently emerged is anxiety about the defense. "How much the injured players can regain their form until the World Cup will be an important key in the World Cup tournament," he added.
Earlier, Japanese national team coach Moriyasu has mentioned 'winning' several times as a North American World Cup goal. At the 2026 annual schedule announcement ceremony last month, he said, "We will aim to win the 2026 North American World Cup. I think there is an opportunity and I also believe I can do it," he said. "The World Cup cannot be won on the strength of the national team alone. We can win only when we fight with the power of the country and the interests of the whole country. I want to achieve my goal," he said.
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*This content was translated by AI.
