EXCLUSIVE: Mitoma’s Injury Recovery for World Cup Found Difficult

London, May 12 (Jiji Press)–Japanese soccer star Kaoru Mitoma has been diagnosed with an injury that will likely prevent him from returning in time for the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11., Jiji Press learned Tuesday. The 28-year-old midfielder who injured his left leg while playing for Brighton and Hove Albion FC in an English Premier League match on Saturday. The Japanese national team, nicknamed Samurai Blue, is now likely to compete in the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, without Mitoma. “I hope it’s a minor injury, but it doesn’t seem like a minor injury,” Samurai Blue manager Hajime Moriyasu said Sunday. On Friday, he is scheduled to announce the 26-member roster for the World Cup. During the previous World Cup in Qatar, Mitoma came under the spotlight with memorable plays such as playing the ball on the goal line by a hair’s breadth to assist a goal in an upset victory against Spain in the group stage. In March, he scored the winning goal in a historic win against England in a friendly. Ahead of the upcoming World Cup, he had attracted high expectations as Samurai Blue aims to advance to the semifinals and beyond to surpass its previous results. Mitoma has been hobbled by injuries and other health problems at past major international tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the Asia Cup in 2024. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]