Waking up soundly when the World Cup roster was announced! Japanese defender: "If I'm not selected, so be it" — legendary mental strength... "I only found out I was selected after seeing a 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."

It further stated, "Whether a football player makes the World Cup squad is a critical event that can shape their career," adding, "Even world-class players like Brazil's Neymar and Spain's Gavi cheer and express joy the moment their names are called on the list."

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 reported, "While he generally finds 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, if I am not selected, I accept it as fate. There was no point in worrying about the result."

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 posture of doing one's utmost and leaving the rest to heaven, he patiently waited for the result and secured his first-ever World Cup berth. Seko's unshakable strong mentality, which remained indifferent to the outcome, is expected to shine even brighter on the grand stage of the World Cup."

Seko is a key central defender expected to be responsible for the backline of Japanese football. He made his professional debut with J-League club Cerezo Osaka, played for Swiss club Grasshopper Club, and is currently a key defender for French Ligue 1 side Le Havre.

He is highly praised not only for his solid man-marking 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, Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) relies on his characteristic calmness and unshakable mentality as his greatest weapon.

Meanwhile, Hajime Moriyasu, head coach of the Japanese national team, finalized the 26th-man final roster for the North American World Cup on the 15th. Among field players, only Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) is a J-League player, meaning the squad is mostly composed of overseas-based players. Key members from European stages joined, including Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord), who has 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.