Following the success of the Japanese nationwide group on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, soccer is having fun with elevated reputation.
The Japanese sports-loving public cheered as their group made it to the knockout levels of play within the Arab World and are hoping to be again for extra of the identical at World Cup 2026. The United States, Canada, and Mexico will collectively host that competitors. Will Team Japan be there flying the flag for Japanese soccer?
The qualification hasn’t began but, however there’s loads to maintain soccer lovers entertained till 2026. J-League video games get pleasure from a world following, with fixtures proven reside on TV attracting consideration from throughout the US, United Kingdom, Europe, and past. That exhibiting in Qatar additionally highlighted the wealth of expertise in Japan, and Europe’s main membership groups have taken be aware. They need in on the motion.
You could make predictions and place bets on the J-League video games at main sportsbooks, together with Betus, however there’s additionally a strong Japanese soccer connection throughout Europe. That’s very true of the Scottish Premiership, the place champions Celtic have used the Japanese switch market properly.
The Hoops boast a number of well-known Japanese gamers who’ve already caught the attention of UK soccer lovers. This web page highlights three names to observe within the coming weeks.
Making headlines in Glasgow
Who are the Japanese gamers who’ve dazzled UK soccer followers, particularly these in Glasgow? What can they carry to the Japanese nationwide group forward of 2026, and might we count on a minimum of one big-money transfer from Celtic to the English Premier League? The EPL is the best-followed membership soccer competitors on earth. It’s the place the large names carry out.
Celtic have a number of Japanese-born gamers on their roster, however some have been extra profitable than others since becoming a member of supervisor Ange Postecoglou at Parkhead. We concentrate on three success tales from Glasgow and clarify how one can watch the subsequent match from the Premiership in your smartphone.
Kyogo Furuhashi
Furuhashi has already confirmed to be an enormous hit in Glasgow, and there are sometimes rumors of a transfer to a top-six facet south of the border. The EPL is the place gamers of Kyogo’s high quality goal to search out employment, and he has accomplished his probabilities no harm with a Scottish scoring spree.
The 28-year-old ahead from Ikoma, Nara, scored 42 targets in 95 appearances for former membership Vissel Kobe earlier than Ange took him to the United Kingdom. Since becoming a member of the Hoops, Kyogo has discovered the online 32 instances in 48 video games and counting. He’s a vital a part of the success at Celtic, and the membership hopes to maintain him round for a crack on the UEFA Champions League subsequent season. That’s the place Kyogo can begin to impress.
Things are going nicely for the person capped 16 instances for Japan, scoring three targets, however the objective machine is not the automated choose you could count on. You will not see him within the Japanese group usually, with supervisor Hajime Moriyasu blaming a scarcity of high quality and correct competitors in Scotland.
Kyogo is on track to be the highest goalscorer in Scotland this season, and he netted 20 instances in 28 video games, offering a few assists. He’s hoping to steer Celtic to two-in-a-row and land the golden boot for himself.
Daizen Maeda
Kyogo is considered one of many internationally capped-Japanese gamers within the Celtic squad. Winger/Forward Daizen Maeda is one other who has settled to life in Scotland with out complication. He is aware of and respects the model of soccer his supervisor needs to play and the strategy that may carry success within the UK.
Maeda is one other followers favourite, and after scoring six targets in 16 appearances whereas on mortgage in Glasgow from Yokohama F Marinos, he made his transfer to Celtic Park everlasting. This time period, he has scored seven in 28 and has chipped in with a few targets for Japan in his 11 caps.
Reo Hatate
He could also be one of many youthful Japanese gamers within the squad, however Reo Hatate is already a family identify in Scottish soccer. The defensive midfielder has already revamped 40 appearances, scoring 9 targets, and he has additionally been referred to as as much as the nationwide group.
Hatate made his Champions League debut towards Spanish giants Real Madrid, the match’s most profitable group. Blancos blew away the Bhoys, however Hatate’s vitality and dedication caught the attention.