FIFA World Cup 2026™ SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) Member Selection: Comment from Yuto Nagatomo

Yuto Nagatomo, a player from our club, has been selected as a member of the SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) for the 'FIFA World Cup 2026™,' which will be held in Mexico, Canada, and the United States in June and July 2026. We are pleased to share his comments.

Comment from Yuto Nagatomo

Q: Congratulations. First, could you share your feelings about being selected for the national team?

A: Thank you. This is my fifth selection, but I've never been as nervous as I was this time. It may sound cliché, but I felt a tremendous sense of gratitude for being selected. My family, of course, but also my teammates and staff at FC Tokyo, and the voices of our fans and supporters—I truly couldn't have come this far without everyone's support. I have nothing but gratitude. I really want to say 'thank you' to everyone.

Q: What are your ambitions for the FIFA World Cup 2026™?

A: As our goal is to win the championship, I want to fight with a strong belief and determination toward that goal.

Q: You mentioned the word 'gratitude' earlier. Could you please give a final message to the fans and supporters, and everyone involved with FC Tokyo?

A: To all the fans and supporters of FC Tokyo, I was able to be selected for the World Cup squad. Thank you so much. It's been about five years since I returned to FC Tokyo in the 2021 season, and while there have been many things and many difficult times, I was able to come this far thanks to the support of your voices and cheers. This fifth World Cup was a very big dream and goal, but I believe I would not have been selected if it weren't for all of you, if it weren't for this club, FC Tokyo. I am filled with gratitude. Thank you so much. And tomorrow's match against Urawa Reds is a very important one for the team. We still have a chance to win the league, so I absolutely want to win it together and go to the World Cup. Let's do our best!