JAKARTA - Optimism radiated from the legendary Japanese player, Keisuke Honda against the Blue Samurai team. The former AC Milan player believes Japan has a chance to win the 2026 World Cup.
The Japanese national team has confirmed itself to qualify for the World Cup round after becoming the leader of group C in the qualifying round.
"Yes, I hope so. I think Japan has a chance, and also all other teams have a chance to become champions," Honda said when met by media crews at the ASIOP Stadium, Jakarta, citing ANTARA on Sunday, June 8.
Of the seven finals they played previously, the Blue Samurai team's best achievement was reaching the last 16 four times, namely in 2002, 2010, 2018, and 2022.
Japan was eliminated by Turkey with a score of 0-1 in 2002 when they hosted. Paraguay and Belgium then took turns getting rid of Japan in the 2010 and 2018 editions, when Honda was in the Blue Samurai squad.
In the last edition of 2022, Japan was eliminated by Croatia on penalties with a final score of 1-3, after playing 1-1 in normal time and extra time. "Even though the chances are very small, I want to believe the Japanese team will win the World Cup," said Honda, who scored 37 goals and 23 assists from 98 appearances for Japan.
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Previously, the target champion was revealed by Japanese captain Wataru Endo after they became the first Asian team to make sure they qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in March.
Quoted from Kyodo News, at the time, the Liverpool player said "As I said when appointed as the new captain, our current target is to win the World Cup".
"We have players who naturally target World Cup champions, who think winning (World Cup qualification) or reaching the finals is just the beginning," he added.
So far no Asian country has been able to win the World Cup. The best achievement of Asian countries on the world's most popular stage was recorded by South Korea which broke through the semifinals in 2002.
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