Japan national team midfielder Takefusa Kubo suffered a left knee injury and risks missing the remainder of the 2026 World Cup group stage.
Kubo encountered the issue during the match between Japan and the Netherlands on June 16. In the 75th minute, the Sociedad midfielder had a very heavy collision with defender Denzel Dumfries in a fierce challenge. The 25-year-old player appeared to be in pain and could not continue playing, forcing him to leave the pitch early.
After the match, images of Kubo moving with difficulty in the stadium area, even having to use a wheelchair at one point, left Japanese fans extremely worried. Sharing briefly with the media, the player admitted he could not yet accurately determine the severity of his injury.
An MRI scan showed that Kubo suffered a left knee injury. The 25-year-old star remains at the Japan national team’s headquarters but cannot yet train with his teammates. This makes his chances of playing in the matches against Tunisia and Canada very slim.
Kubo could miss the entire 2026 World Cup group stage. Photo: Reuters. This continues to be a less-than-smooth season for Kubo. In January, he had to sit out for many weeks due to a muscle injury suffered while playing for Sociedad. After returning at the end of March, Kubo could not find his best form and only scored two goals throughout the entire season.
The 2026 World Cup was seen as the stage for Kubo to assert his value. However, this latest injury is seriously threatening the chance to shine for the most highly anticipated star in Japanese football today.
