This story is part of Billboard’s Global World Cup Series, a collection of 11 cover stories which pairs top soccer stars across the world competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup with highly-touted musicians in accompanying countries.
Ryo Miyaichi signed with England’s Arsenal at 18, went on to gain experience at clubs across Europe and now plays for Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos. The 33-year-old footballer’s perseverance through repeated injuries, returning to the pitch time and again with the support of his fans, has captured the hearts of many.
FANTASTICS member Sota Nakajima has been watching Miyaichi play on television since elementary school. The 26-year-old member of the LDH boy band once aspired to become a footballer himself, but a medical circumstance forced him to let that dream go. He continued to excel at futsal, and he now puts his extensive knowledge to work as the host of a football program.
While they excel in different areas, both share the ability to captivate audiences on the big stage. Meeting for the first time, the two hit it off immediately and spoke with Billboard Japan about the role music plays in sports and more.
Nakajima: I used to watch you a lot when you were playing abroad, so today still feels unreal to me. What got you into football in the first place?
