Keisuke Honda's Witty World Cup Commentary on Japan vs Netherlands Goes Viral, Praised as 'More Entertaining Than the Match'

2026 FIFA World Cup Highlight News

(Tokyo, June 15 — Reporter Daisy Dai, Central News Agency) In the Group F clash of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Japan came from behind twice to draw 2-2 against the Netherlands, ranked 8th globally. While the match thrilled fans, the real viral sensation was Keisuke Honda, former Japanese national team player, whose colorful and unrestrained commentary for NHK quickly spread across social media, with fans praising it as 'more exciting than the game itself'.

At 40 years old, Honda first gained fame as a match commentator during the 2022 Qatar World Cup via platforms like ABEMA, where his unique style and distinctive expressions went viral. Returning for NHK's broadcast this time, Honda stayed true to his bold personality — a stark contrast to NHK's traditionally cautious and neutral commentary style — bringing fresh entertainment value to the broadcast.

Having played extensively in the Dutch league, Honda demonstrated deep familiarity with the Netherlands squad. When identifying Japan's biggest threat, he bluntly stated, 'Number one is Gakpo, number two is Gakpo, and number three is still Gakpo,' emphasizing the player's dominance with memorable repetition.

Beyond tactical analysis, Honda openly expressed his emotions. Reacting to on-field decisions, he exclaimed, 'He pushed him! That’s not acceptable!' Speaking about Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, he bluntly said, 'This guy is really annoying.' Even during hydration breaks, he couldn’t help but comment, 'What are they doing right now?'

He also shared quirky observations from his time living in the Netherlands, such as, 'Even the height of toilets in the Netherlands is unusually high.'

When the camera briefly captured WWE superstar female wrestler Liv Morgan on the sidelines, Honda immediately blurted out, 'Who is that?' — perfectly voicing the audience’s curiosity and earning instant relatability.

The most memorable moment came right after Japan equalized to 2-2. When substitute player Junya Ito collided with the referee, Honda suddenly shouted, 'Hey! What are you doing?!' followed by, 'Referee, you’re the one who should get a yellow card!' This spontaneous outburst sent viewers into fits of laughter.

After the match, fans flooded social media with reactions: 'NHK has turned into ABEMA,' 'First time seeing such free-spirited commentary,' 'Honda has no off-limits topics,' 'Can’t stop laughing,' 'Felt so refreshed watching, thank you Honda,' and 'The referee roast was absolutely hilarious.'

With Japan’s next match against Tunisia, many fans now look forward not just to the result, but to what iconic quotes Honda might deliver next. (Edited by Chen Hui-ping) 1150615