[FIFA World Cup Education] Let's gain a clearer understanding of national team matches, European leagues, and the Japan national team!
When the FIFA World Cup begins, even those who don't usually watch soccer start to wonder, "Who is Japan playing?", "Are Brazil and Argentina strong?", and "What is the difference between the English and Spanish leagues?"
First, it is important to clarify that the FIFA World Cup is not a "FIFA tournament" per se, but a world tournament for national teams hosted by FIFA.
FIFA, formally the International Federation of Association Football, is the organization that has managed national associations, rules, and international tournaments as the world governing body for soccer since 1904. FIFA has member associations all over the world, and the tournament for the national teams at the pinnacle of this structure is the FIFA World Cup.
Furthermore, the World Cup is not held every year, but once every four years. Even in official FIFA explanations, the World Cup is described as a tournament held every four years.
The 2026 World Cup will be the largest tournament in history.
The 2026 tournament will be co-hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will feature a record 48 countries. According to the JFA tournament overview, it is explained as a format with 48 participating countries, the first-ever three-country co-hosting, 12 groups in the group stage, and the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place teams advancing to the knockout stage.
In other words, the 2026 tournament is significantly larger than the traditional "32-country tournament." With the increase in participating countries, attention will be focused not only on the powerhouses but also on countries making their debut or returning after a long absence.
This is what makes it interesting. The World Cup is not just a soccer tournament; it is also an international stage where countries of the world clash using the common language of soccer.
What is the difference between the World Cup and European leagues?
When watching soccer, it is easy to get confused about the differences between the World Cup, the Premier League, La Liga, and the Champions League.
In short, it can be organized as follows.
The World Cup is a tournament for national teams based on nationality. On the other hand, the Premier League and La Liga are league competitions for club teams.
For example, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are club teams. Players can transfer and join them regardless of their nationality.
However, the Japan national team, England national team, and France national team are different. Players selected based on nationality or eligibility form a team for a short period to compete in the tournament.
This is where the unique difficulty of the World Cup lies.
Club teams practice together every week and play in league matches, making it easier for the manager's tactics to take root. On the other hand, national teams have limited time to gather and build the team. Therefore, in the World Cup, it is important not only to have "the ability shown at the club level" but also to be able to "come together for a short-term battle" and "withstand the pressure of representing one's country."
What is England's Premier League?
The top-tier league in England is the Premier League.
The Premier League consists of 20 clubs, and each team plays home and away once, for a total of 38 matches. Three points are awarded for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss, with the final standings determined by points. The bottom three clubs are relegated to the second-tier Championship, and the top clubs earn the right to participate in European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League.
The appeal of the Premier League lies in its speed, intensity, financial power, and the star players who gather from all over the world. The pace of the game is fast, and the physical contact is intense. For those who want to enjoy soccer as a "powerful sport," the Premier League is a very easy entry point.
Also, when watching the Japan national team, players with experience in the Premier League or those playing in England tend to attract attention. Competing daily in the world's highest-level league provides significant experience that carries over to national team matches.
What is Spain's La Liga?
Spain's top-tier league is La Liga.
La Liga is a professional soccer organization where 20 clubs belong to the top division, LALIGA EA SPORTS, and 22 clubs belong to the second division, LALIGA HYPERMOTION.
The appeal of La Liga lies in its technique, tactical maneuvering, ball possession, and tactical precision. If the Premier League is often described in terms of "speed and intensity," La Liga is a league often described in terms of "technique and tactics."
Of course, oversimplification should be avoided, but for beginners, it is easy to think of it this way.
The Premier League is a league of speed and intensity.
La Liga is a league of technique and tactical maneuvering.
The World Cup is a tournament where national teams clash in short-term battles.
Just by understanding these three differences, watching soccer becomes much more interesting.
The Champions League is the "European pinnacle of club soccer"
Another thing to keep in mind is the UEFA (The Union of European Football Associations) Champions League.
This is not a national team tournament, but rather a tournament where top clubs from across Europe gather to compete. The current Champions League features a league phase with 36 teams, where each team plays 8 matches.
If the World Cup is a "battle between nations," the Champions League is a "battle between top European clubs."
Therefore, in terms of pure club team perfection, the Champions League can sometimes be higher than the World Cup. This is because club teams practice together every day and can develop their tactics in great detail.
On the other hand, the World Cup has a different kind of value. That is the weight of a high-stakes match while representing one's country.
The tension not seen in clubs, national expectations, historical rivalries, and upsets. This is the charm of the World Cup.
Countries to watch in the 2026 tournament
There are several countries to watch when looking at the 2026 tournament.
First, there are the traditional powerhouses.
Brazil is a country that is always considered a favorite to win as the kingdom of soccer. With individual skill, attacking power, and star quality, it is a symbolic presence in the World Cup.
Argentina is a country with South American-style technique and tenacity. In the World Cup, they are extremely strong when individual talent and team unity click.
France is a country with particularly deep squad depth among recent national teams. With speed, physicality, and tactical adaptability, they are seen as a team close to the finished form of modern football.
England is also one to watch. As a country with the Premier League, one of the world's leading leagues, their squad depth is very deep. In the 2026 tournament, they won their first match 4-2 against Croatia and have made a good start in Group L.
Spain is a country where La Liga-style technique and midfield organizational skills are easily brought into the national team. For those who like football that moves the opponent while maintaining possession, the Spanish national team is an interesting team to watch.
And, keep an eye on the host countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Host countries often perform better than usual because they receive local support. The 2026 tournament is also historic in that it is co-hosted by three countries.
Key points for the Japan national team
The Japan national team was placed in Group F for the 2026 tournament. Their opponents are the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden. According to the official JFA page, Japan drew 2-2 with the Netherlands in their first match, with the next match against Tunisia kicking off at 13:00 on June 21, 2026, and the third match against Sweden kicking off at 8:00 on June 26.
In the current Group F, Sweden has 3 points, Japan and the Netherlands have 1 point, and Tunisia has 0 points.
What is interesting about watching the Japan national team is that they are no longer just 'challengers,' as more players are playing in Europe on a daily basis.
According to the JFA player list, Takefusa Kubo is listed as playing for Real Sociedad in Spain, Ritsu Doan for Frankfurt in Germany, Daichi Kamada for Crystal Palace in England, Ao Tanaka for Leeds in England, and Ayase Ueda for Feyenoord in the Netherlands.
This is extremely important.
In the past, the view of the Japan national team was centered on 'how well they could compete against the world's powerhouses.' But now, the individual players are already competing in major European leagues. In other words, the Japan national team is not suddenly facing the world on the World Cup stage, but is increasingly composed of players who experience the world's top level on a daily basis.
There are three points to watch:
The first is Takefusa Kubo's creativity. How will he use the technique and judgment honed in Spain in the short-term battles of the national team?
The second is the tenacity of Ritsu Doan and Daichi Kamada. In the World Cup, players who can change the game in an instant during periods of poor momentum are crucial.
The third is the stability of the defense and midfield. In the World Cup, you cannot win with flashy attacks alone. In the group stage, picking up 1 point, not ruining your goal difference, and holding on in the final stages are extremely important.
Highlights of Group F
Group F, which Japan is in, is quite an interesting group.
The Netherlands is a powerhouse with traditional technique and organizational strength. They have a history of advancing to the top stages in the World Cup, and their individual strength is also high.
Sweden has physicality and organizational strength, and they won their first match against Tunisia 5-1. They have also made a favorable start in Group F in terms of goal difference.
Although Tunisia suffered a crushing defeat in their first match, it has been reported that there has been a managerial change, with Hervé Renard appointed as the new head coach. Renard is a manager who previously led Saudi Arabia to victory over Argentina in the 2022 tournament, and the team may change ahead of the match against Japan.
For Japan, drawing against the Netherlands in the first match is significant. However, the next match against Tunisia is extremely important. Whether or not they can secure 3 points here will significantly change the reality of advancing from the group.
How to enjoy the World Cup
To enjoy the World Cup, it becomes more interesting if you look at it not just in terms of 'winning or losing,' but from the following perspectives.
First, look at the soccer culture of each country.
For Brazil, individual skill and aggression. For Germany, rationality and organizational strength. For Spain, ball possession and technique. For England, intensity and speed. For Japan, how to fuse organizational strength, diligence, technique, and European experience.
Next, look at the league where the players belong at the club level.
Players competing in the Premier League are accustomed to fast-paced play and strong physical contact. Players in La Liga excel in technique and decision-making in tight spaces. Players in the Bundesliga are likely to acquire intensity, stamina, and quick transitions. Players in Serie A are likely to become strong in defensive tactics and game management.
In other words, when watching the World Cup, your understanding will deepen if you look not only at the country but also at 'which league that player is usually trained in.'
The World Cup is an education for viewing the world through soccer
The appeal of the World Cup is not just soccer itself.
It overlaps with nation-states, immigration, economic power, development systems, club business, broadcasting rights, cities, culture, and history.
Why is Brazil a soccer kingdom? Why do players from all over the world gather in the English league? Why does Spain have such a strong image of technical soccer? Why has the Japan national team become able to compete on equal terms with the world more than before?
If you watch while holding these questions, the World Cup becomes not just a sports spectacle, but an education for reading the world.
If you are a soccer beginner, first watch the Japan national team. Next, look at the opposing country. Then, look at which club and which league the players usually play in.
If you watch in this order, the World Cup will suddenly become interesting.
The 2026 tournament will be the largest in history, with 48 countries participating. Using the Japan national team's battles as an entry point, broaden your perspective to the Premier League, La Liga, the Champions League, and the soccer cultures of countries around the world.
I believe that is the best way to enjoy the FIFA World Cup as an education.