"Is she really a 41-year-old mom?" Japanese fan Nagatomo's older wife, a 'vampire beauty,' turns the stands upside down

*This content was translated by AI.

As Japanese veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo (39) set a record as the first Asian player to appear in five consecutive World Cups, attention has turned to his wife, Airi Tai (41), who was seen cheering for him from the stands.

Japan's "Soccer Digest" reported on the 27th (Korea time) that "as Nagatomo achieved this feat in the match against Sweden, fans are showering praise on his wife Airi, who watched the game with their sons from the stands."

Japan drew 1-1 with Sweden in the final Group F match of the 2026 FIFA North, Central America and Caribbean World Cup group stage, held at the Dallas Stadium in the United States on the 26th. Finishing the group stage with one win and two draws (five points), Japan secured a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in the group, behind the Netherlands, which had two wins and one draw (seven points).

Nagatomo started the match on the bench and was substituted in during the 30th minute of the second half, where he played on the left flank. This marked the first time an Asian player has appeared in five consecutive World Cups and broke the record for the most World Cup appearances by a Japanese player (16 matches).

After the match, he shouted, "World Cup, Mamma Mia!" as he could not hide his joy.

In the stands, his wife Airi, wearing a blue jersey, cheered enthusiastically alongside their sons. As this scene spread on social media (SNS), netizens responded with strong reactions, saying, "It's unbelievable that she's 41," "She will always be beautiful," "The children must be proud to see their father's record," and "I can't help but feel moved."

The couple celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary on the 24th. A few days before the match, Tai also drew attention by posting a special nail art design on her Instagram featuring the World Cup trophy, Yuto Nagatomo, a soccer ball, and the emblem of the Japan Football Association (JFA).

Meanwhile, with all Group F matches completed, the Netherlands (seven points) in first place, Japan (five points) in second, and Sweden (four points) in third all advanced to the Round of 32. Japan will face the powerhouse Brazil, the top team in Group C, in the Round of 32 match on the 29th.

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*This content was translated by AI.