'Sleeping through the World Cup roster announcement' Japanese defender: "If I'm cut, I'm cut" — legendary mental strength... "I only knew I was selected after seeing the congratulatory text"

*This content was translated by AI.

Japanese national team defender Ayumu Seko (26, Le Havre) confessed that he was asleep at the moment the final roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America was announced.

On the 26th, the Japanese outlet 'Soccer Digest' reported, "Seko, who was at a crossroads regarding his selection, revealed the surprising fact that he was asleep when the World Cup roster was announced."

The report continued, "Whether a soccer player makes the World Cup squad is a critical event that can shape their career. Even world-class players like Brazil's Neymar and Spain's Gavi cheer and express joy the moment their names are called."

However, Seko's reaction was completely different. He only learned of his selection after waking up and checking the congratulatory LINE messages sent by acquaintances.

The media added, "While Seko has a tendency to find it difficult to wake up early in the morning, his firm mindset of not being overly attached to the outcome played a significant role."

In an interview, Seko calmly shared his feelings, saying, "I have already done everything I could. So I thought that if I wasn't selected, it was unavoidable. Worrying about the result would have been meaningless."

He added, "I am very happy. I once again felt the responsibility to fight with pride as a member of the Japanese national team."

The media noted, "With a mindset of doing one's best and leaving the rest to heaven, Seko secured his first-ever World Cup berth after patiently waiting for the result. His unshakable strong mental fortitude, which remains unaffected by the outcome, is expected to shine even brighter on the grand stage of the World Cup."

Seko is considered a key central defender who will be responsible for the backline of Japanese football. He made his professional debut with Cerezo Osaka in the J.League, played for Grasshopper Club in Switzerland, and is now a key defender for Le Havre in France's Ligue 1.

He is praised not only for his solid man-to-man defense and bold defensive coordination but also for his excellent ability to execute precise passing and build up play from the back, which are essential for center-backs in modern football. Having climbed the elite path through various teams, he relies on his characteristic calmness and unshakable mental strength as his greatest asset. Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO)

Meanwhile, Hajime Moriyasu, head coach of the Japanese national team, finalized the 26th-man roster for the North American World Cup on the 15th. Among field players, only Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) is a J.League player, with the majority of the squad composed of overseas-based players. Key members from European stages joined, including Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), who has already secured the goal-scoring title in the Dutch league, Daizen Maeda (Celtic FC), Wataru Endo (Liverpool), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax).

Japan, placed in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden, aims to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in history.

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*This content was translated by AI.