Is Shohei Ohtani a Hurdle for Japan's World Cup Ambitions?

As Japan's national football team aims for World Cup victory, Korean media suggests Shohei Ohtani's presence is hindering Japan's soccer popularity. Japan's recent form is 3W-1D-1L, with a 3-0 win over Bolivia. Is Japan's soccer being affected by Ohtani's influence?

4 Jul 2026

Updated 7 Oct 2026 By 和田凌 · senior correspondent

As Japan's national football team aims for World Cup victory, Korean media has made a bold claim. Japan's recent form is 3W-1D-1L, with a 3-0 win over Bolivia on November 18, 2025.

As Japan's national team aims for World Cup victory, Korean media suggests Shohei Ohtani's presence is hindering Japan's soccer popularity.

Ohtani's emergence and success in the WBC have made baseball overwhelmingly popular. Therefore, it is more difficult for soccer to discover talent compared to baseball, the media argues.

However, it is also a fact that Japan's success must come first to attract talent. The appearance of star players in the World Cup, international tournaments, or European leagues will inevitably impact soccer's popularity in Japan.