Takefusa Kubo

Takefusa Kubo is the Real Sociedad winger named in Japan's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, confirmed in Hajime Moriyasu's selection on 15 May 2026. He turns 25 a week before kick-off and carries 48 senior caps and 7 international goals into the tournament, one of the attacking players in a side captained by Wataru Endo.

A left-footer who plays off the right, Kubo has featured regularly for Japan over recent seasons, and his pace and dribbling make him one of the side's main creative outlets. The team reached the 2026 finals by winning its Asian qualifying group, and the draw placed them in Group F with the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia, opening against the Netherlands in Arlington on 14 June.

Kubo is a left-footed attacking player who usually operates on the right. His game is built on strong dribbling and 1v1 ability, beating a marker on the outside or cutting inside onto his stronger foot.

From that right-sided role he is most dangerous for his chance creation, and he can finish himself after cutting inside across the goal. His movement between the lines stretches a defence and opens space for the midfield runners arriving behind him.

Kubo brings a wide attacking threat to the Japan pick: 7 international goals, sharp 1v1 dribbling and a finish after cutting inside. The team is a Tier 3 selection at £17m, into the finals as Asian qualifying-group winners, with the Group F draw lining up the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia.

When Kubo plays, that threat comes from the right channel, where his dribbling and chance creation feed the attack and pull defenders out of shape for the runners arriving behind him.