Japan could have suffered another serious injury when midfielder Takefusa Kubo left the stadium in a wheelchair after the group match against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Kubo suffered a blow to the knee in the 71st minute and was then replaced by Koki Ogawa, who provided the second equalizer for the Samurai Blue.
«I don’t know. I think I’m doing well, but let’s see how it goes. It felt like I was being attacked from different directions,» Kubo said DAZN after the match.
The 25-year-old, dubbed ‘Japanese Messi’ by his fans, won the Copa del Rey with Real Sociedad last season and was central to his country’s midfield.
Against the Netherlands, he provided Keito Nakamura for Japan’s first equalizer. Kubo’s injury would cause further problems for coach Hajime Moriyasu, who is left with a depleted World Cup squad without first-team regulars such as Kaoru Mitoma, Wataru Endo and Takumi Minamino.
«I have not received an accurate report yet. I hope it is a minor injury as he is walking alone. It is impossible at the moment to confirm whether he will be able to play in the next match,» Moriyasu said of Kubo’s injury after the match against Netherlands.
Japan, which reached the round of 16 in the last two editions of the World Cup, has been drawn in the group with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia and opened its campaign with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against the Dutch team.
Six days later, the country will face Tunisia in the next group match in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Published on June 15, 2026
