Takefusa Kubo Absent Against Brazil, Japan's Ambition to Change History at the World Cup is Not Diminished

JAKARTA - For the third consecutive match - and arguably their biggest match at the 2026 World Cup - Japan will play without key playmaker, Takefusa Kubo, in the 32-team knockout match against Brazil on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

However, after seeing his team reach this stage even without the Real Sociedad star, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu is optimistic that his charges can still do what most people consider a major surprise - and change history with a win over Brazil.

After being replaced in the Blue Samurai's opening match which ended in a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands, Kubo missed the following matches against Tunisia and Sweden. He stayed at the team's base in Nashville, while Japan played in Monterrey, Mexico, and Arlington, Texas.

Kubo has been undergoing an individual training program to recover his condition, but on Sunday, June 28, 2026 - in a 15-minute training session open to the media - Kubo continued to train separately from the main group. He seemed not entirely comfortable while undergoing some agility training.

Later in the afternoon, Moriyasu confirmed that they would once again lose Kubo - who is usually the strongest candidate to beat the strongest teams at the 2026 World Cup.

"He is still only doing running and individual training. So he will not play in the match against Brazil."

"We really hope he recovers quickly and he hopes so too," Moriyasu said.

Moriyasu acknowledged that circumstances would be different this time, given the stakes are much higher. Nonetheless, he believes they can take a lesson from the fact that few people gave them a chance nine months ago.

"In the world, Brazil is in the top rank, while Japan is not in the highest rank. That's the reality."

"We aim to win the 2026 World Cup, but we have never been at that level before. Of course, some people look at us and feel we have played well."

"When we look to the future, of course every new opportunity gives (the possibility) to believe that we can win. However, we really believe that we have that opportunity. That's what we're fighting for."

"Brazil are always the favourites. They have a very good chance of winning. Some people will say Japan are the underdogs. We'll play with that in mind."

"We will respect the opponent, but like last year (in the friendly win) we were not given the chance to win. This possibility to win - we can change history."

"We hope to play in the same way in this 32-team match. The world is watching us," Moriyasu said.

Because this is a knockout match, there is also a possibility that the match will have to be decided through a penalty shootout.

Japan just need to recall back in 2022 about the memory of the pain of being eliminated in a penalty shootout by Croatia in the last 16.

Moriyasu already knows one thing he will change if the match ends in a penalty shootout.

"When the time comes where a penalty shootout is very likely, I will determine the order of the kicker. Instead of (the players) voluntarily, like last time, I will make a decision on who will take the kick," he said.

If Japan manages to beat Brazil, they will then face the winner of the Ivory Coast or Norway match at the New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5, 2026.