Maya Yoshida: I can’t believe Japan beat Brazil. We are ready to enter the World Cup quarter-finals

October 21st. In an exclusive interview with FIFA, Japanese defender Maya Yoshida, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, talked about the goals of the Japanese team in the 2026 World Cup, his views on the Los Angeles Galaxy this season, and his views on Son Heung-min joining the Major League.

Have you encountered any unique challenges this season?

Maya Yoshida: Well, first of all, I didn’t realize that I had been playing football for so many years (22 years)! This is my first time competing in a season as the defending champion. Greg mentioned before that we may have been knocked out of the playoffs, but at the end of the season we're still MLS champions. So, I hope to fight like a champion until the end. In the last two games we showed a little bit of that spirit.

As a captain, how difficult is it to keep the team motivated after the team loses a key player like Phuket?

Maya Yoshida: We do miss players like Phuket, but I also thought, "We should be fine because we have other good players." But the situation is much harder than I thought. After the summer, things started to get better. Rickey is coming back, which is great, but the ACL injury is pretty serious. We shouldn't expect him to perform at the top level right away, he needs time. We shouldn't put too much pressure on him. At the same time, we as a team need to have higher standards.

You must have seen Japan's recent 3-2 victory over Brazil; how did it feel to see the team go from 0-2 behind to finally defeat Brazil?

Maya Yoshida: I played more than 100 games for the Japanese team. Brazil is definitely the best team I have ever played against. I can't believe Japan won! Sure, Brazil may not be as strong now as they once were, but they're still Brazil. They are not the kind of team that would accept conceding three goals. Brazil is testing new players in the defense and goalkeeper positions, but Japan also has some injuries. This is a great game. Japan now finds it easier to control games against top teams. They are now one of the more popular teams and European teams want to play friendlies against Japan.

With less than a year before the 2026 World Cup, how much hope does such a victory bring to the Japanese team?

Maya Yoshida: The really positive thing is that the Japanese team is almost guaranteed to be in the second tier. Last time, we were in fourth gear. Before the draw, we really tried to get into pot three but couldn't and ended up in the same group with Spain and Germany. Now, if we can get into second gear, it's a different story.

Do you feel that this Japanese team has finally overcome its psychological barriers and can reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup for the first time in history?

Maya Yoshida: I think they are ready to enter the quarterfinals. I really feel that the mentality of the players is ready. Most of the current players on the Japanese team have participated in the previous World Cup and have different experiences in Europe's Champions League. But every team goes through ups and downs. Even Brazil, now that Ancelotti is gone, could be a completely different team over the next eight months.

You have played against South Korea captain Son Heung-min many times before. How much do you think playing in the MLS will help Son Heung-min prepare for the World Cup?

Maya Yoshida: That was a big surprise. People usually expect big-name players to come to MLS after the World Cup for a new challenge like me, but he decided to come to MLS a year before the World Cup. This is very interesting. Of course, he has shown his quality in MLS. He proved to be something else entirely. It's so easy for him here! There are some things that others don't know, but "Sunny" knows now, which will definitely help him and the Korean team. Especially for veterans, physical condition is more important than competitive level. As long as you are healthy, you can show your level. This is very important.