JAPAN
After failing to qualify for the last four editions of the U-20 World Cup, Japan finally broke their jinx by cruising through last year’s AFC U-19 Championship to win that tournament for the first time with zero goals conceded in regulation.
In a squad nearly filled with J.Leaguers, most observers will point to Gamba Osaka midfielder Doan Ritsu or Jubilo Iwata striker Koki Ogawa, who have impressed so far in the current J1 season, as the players to watch.
But the majority of media attention (and public scrutiny) will surely fall on 15-year-old Takefusa Kubo, whose rapid ascension has seen him feature in a recent Levain Cup match for FC Tokyo and earn regular appearances for the club’s U-23 squad in the J3.
Japan will be considered likely to finish third in a challenging group, but they will hope to recreate the magic that helped them to a 2-1 semifinal win against Uruguay in 1999. Should they beat expectations in Korea, Atsushi Uchiyama’s men will likely make up the nucleus of the country’s squad in three years, when Tokyo hosts the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Schedule (all times GMT+9)
May 21 – vs. South Africa (Suwon, 17:00)
May 24 – vs. Uruguay (Suwon, 20:00)
May 27 – vs. Italy (Cheonan, 20:00)