Japan's Daizen Maeda, center, celebrates scoring the first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 group-stage match against Sweden at Dallas Stadium in Texas on June 25.REUTERS/YONHAP
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — While Korea were left relying on results elsewhere in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in a desperate bid to reach the Round of 32, only to fall short, longtime rival Japan calmly advanced from one of the tournament's toughest groups.
Their contrasting World Cup campaigns have laid bare how far the two countries have drifted apart in football.
The Samurai Blue confidently advanced from the tournament's "Group of Death" with five points after holding the Netherlands to a 2-2 draw, drawing 1-1 with Sweden and thrashing Tunisia 4-0.
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The difference extends far beyond results. Japan's well-established system, infrastructure and long-term football philosophy have widened the gap with Korea, offering a painful lesson for Korean football.
Japan's Ayase Ueda, left, celebrates scoring the fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match against Tunisia in Guadalupe near Monterrey, Mexico, on June 20.AP/YONHAP
No stars, no problem
Japan entered the tournament without several of its biggest stars. Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion, Takumi Minamino of Monaco and Wataru Endo of Liverpool were all ruled out through injury before the tournament, while Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad suffered a knee injury in the opening match.
For Korea, it would have been the equivalent of losing Son Heung-min, Lee Jae-sung, Hwang In-beom and Lee Kang-in at the same time. Yet despite the absence of so many key players, Japan have maintained their level of play without appearing unsettled.
Even in the dugout, the deliberate development of the Japanese football program is evident. Former national team stars Shunsuke Nakamura and Makoto Hasebe serve as coaches. Although injured, Minamino remained with the squad as a mentor, while retired captain Maya Yoshida also traveled with the team in a support role.
"It would be like having Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo still working with the national team," said Shin Moo-kwang, a Korean Japanese football analyst. "It's like watching Captain America and Iron Man return to the battlefield together in 'Avengers: Endgame’ [2019]."
Few legendary Taeguk Warriors can be found on the bench.
Unlike Korea, which parted ways with manager Paulo Bento after he guided the team to the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup, Japan has kept Hajime Moriyasu in charge since 2018, maintaining tactical continuity for eight years.
The contrast in leadership was equally striking. While Korean manager Hong Myung-bo remained seated on the bench as his team trailed, Moriyasu repeatedly wrote the remaining time on a whiteboard minute by minute while gently barking instructions, staying involved right up to the final whistle.
Hajime Moriyasu, the manager of Japan, center, instructs players after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Japan and Sweden at Dallas Stadium in Dallas on June 25.XINHUA/YONHAP
'Japan's Way' project
Amid controversy over the Korea Football Association's coaching appointment process and declining public trust, the Japan Football Association (JFA) has stayed the course with its long-term "Japan's Way” project, launched in 2005 with the goal of winning the World Cup by 2050.
Japan even brought their under-19 national team players to the tournament as training partners despite the additional cost, hoping to expose them to the World Cup environment and inspire bigger ambitions.
Korea traveled with only two training partners, Kang Sang-yoon of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and goalkeeper Yun Ki-wook of FC Seoul.
About 40 students from the University of Tokyo and the University of Tsukuba are also supporting Japan's national team by analyzing all 48 participating teams under the supervision of the team's performance analysis department, reflecting the federation's relentless pursuit of even the smallest competitive edge.
Philippe Troussier, who coached Japan at the 2002 World Cup, once predicted that Japan would need at least 30 players competing in first and second divisions in Europe before they could realistically challenge for a World Cup quarterfinal.
Japan have now surpassed that benchmark. More than 100 Japanese players are currently competing in Europe, and 23 of the 26 players selected for this World Cup play for European clubs.
Regular exposure to Europe's top leagues has also removed much of the psychological pressure from facing European opponents. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in their last 11 matches against European teams across all competitions, recording eight wins and three draws, with victories over Germany and England among them.
Park Ji-sung, left, and Cha Bum-kun pose for a photo during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at University Stadium in Mexico City on June 8.KANG JUNG-HYUN
Choosing challenge over comfort
The difference is also evident in players' career decisions. Many Japanese players choose the challenge of Europe's leagues over higher-paying opportunities elsewhere.
Japanese players have continued to challenge themselves by moving to Europe, while a good number of Korean players have chosen more lucrative opportunities in the Middle East or China.
The JFA also operates a European office in Düsseldorf, Germany, with full-time staff based in Germany and Spain to closely support its players overseas. Korea previously said it would benchmark the system, but has yet to establish anything comparable.
Japan was once known for its intricate passing style. Today's players have retained that technical quality while becoming equally comfortable with the physical side of the game.
"It feels like there are 11 Park Ji-sungs on the field," said Ki Sung-yueng, a Pohang Steelers midfielder and former captain of the national team at the 2018 World Cup, referring to one of the breakout stars of the 2002 World Cup on home soil who went on to establish himself as one of the most reliable workhorses in European football.
"We used to be ahead, but now we're the ones trying to catch up, and that's frustrating," Park said, while fellow 2002 hero Ahn Jung-hwan noted, “What may come across as arrogance is really a sign of confidence.”
Cha Bum-kun, hailed as the greatest Korean player of all time, also echoed a similar sentiment.
"Japan have reached a level we can no longer simply catch up to. We need a serious wake-up call," he said.
Japan will face Brazil in the round of 32 on Monday. The side claimed a 3-2 comeback victory over the five-time winner in a friendly last October.
"We didn't come here just to enjoy the tournament,” defender Yukinari Sugawara of Werder Bremen said. “We came to win it.”
For Korea, a team still searching for direction, talk of winning the World Cup remains a distant dream.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
