SportFootballWorld Cup 2026Japan attacker Takefusa Kubo was forced off in the second half of Samurai Blue's dramatic 2-2 World Cup draw against Holland in Dallas13:20, 15 Jun 2026Japan winger Takefusa Kubo left the Dallas Stadium in a wheelchair last night after suffering a serious-looking knee injury against Holland.‌The Real Sociedad starlet was forced off on 75 minutes after signalling he could not continue following a collision with Denzel Dumfries.‌Kubo was able to walk off the field, though he moved gingerly and was later spotted grimacing as he hobbled around the edge of the pitch at full-time.‌Post-match, the 25-year-old told Spanish TV: "I think I'm okay but let's see how it goes."However, the issue seemingly worsened and Kubo was spotted being pushed around in a wheelchair within the stadium's bowels.Mirror Football has since contacted the Japanese Football Association, who confirmed the nimble dribbler did not go to the hospital for checks.‌Instead, he will be assessed by Japan's medical staff internally as they head back to their team base in Nashville, Tennessee.Samurai Blue return to action on Saturday when they travel to Monterrey to lock horns with Tunisia, who were beaten 5-1 by Sweden in their Group F opener.Kubo has since posted on Instagram and there appears to be some optimism regarding his condition. He wrote: "There's still a long way to go. Thank you for your support. We're just getting started."‌Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu did not have much of an update in his press conference, stating: "I haven't received a detailed report from the medical staff yet. He was walking on his own, so I hope it's just a minor injury. We don't know at this point."Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had headed the opener in Texas before Japan hit back through Reims attacker Keito Nakamura.‌Holland then restored the lead through West Ham's Crysencio Summerville before Japan rescued a point at the death courtesy of Crystal Palace maestro Daichi Kamada.Ahead of the tournament, Japan were rocked by the news that Wataru Endo would not be able to participate in the World Cup due to an ankle injury sustained with Liverpool in February.He travelled to the United States as part of preparations but endured some pain in training, therefore withdrawing from the fold before also announcing his retirement.Article continues belowJoin our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Hajime MoriyasuFIFA World CupWorld Cup 2026