Kubo set to miss Sweden, but back to light running — his real target is the knockout round

A face in the team photo, not on the training pitch

Japan restarted training at their Nashville base on June 23, three days before the Group F finale against Sweden. Kubo appeared for the pre-session team photo, but did not join the full workout; he worked separately and resumed light running. Sports Hochi and Kyodo both framed the day the same way: the squad is back at work, and Kubo is expected to miss a third straight game. Shuto Machino was also held out, working to a separate program after feeling unwell.

Between "a few games" and "almost hopeless"

For a week the reporting on Kubo pulled in two directions. His club, Real Sociedad, was optimistic: executive Erik Bretos said the knee was knocked but not serious, that Kubo would miss a few games, and that playing again during the World Cup was entirely possible — as relayed by Nikkei and Tokyo Sports. The club's local Basque paper, Noticias de Gipuzkoa, went the other way, suggesting that barring a miraculous recovery a return this tournament looked almost hopeless, as introduced by RONSPO.

By June 23 the two readings have met in the middle. Sweden looks too soon; the knockout round is the realistic line. Chunichi Sports called the light running "a bright sign for the knockout stage," while Nikkan Gendai wrote that he could be out as far as the round of 16. Manager Hajime Moriyasu has not put a name or a timeline on the injury at his press conferences. What is confirmed is narrow: photo yes, full training no, light running yes.

Japan already won 4-0 without him

The on-pitch version of the question has an answer. Japan beat Tunisia 4-0 without Kubo — and without Machino. Daichi Kamada turned in Keito Nakamura's low cutback inside four minutes; Ayase Ueda scored twice; Junya Ito added the third after the break, with Kaishu Sano overlapping from the right. The right channel Kubo usually runs was covered by other players, and the goals came from four different routes. Japan did not look like a team waiting for one man.

What Sweden actually requires

The finale kicks off at 08:00 JST on June 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Japan sit second in Group F on four points; a draw or better takes them through under their own power. Sweden, with three points and no margin, must win. That reframes the Kubo question. Japan do not need to replace his creativity to win a shoot-out — they need to manage a result without him. The things to watch on the 26th are the right side (Ito, Ritsu Doan, Nakamura) and how Japan closes a game they only need to draw. The open question is the next one: whether Kubo is fit in time for the knockout round.