Feyenoord– tag –

Ayase Ueda has given Japan a genuine penalty-box striker ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The question is not whether he can score, but whether he can hold up play, pin center-backs and finish the few chances tournament football leaves.

Tsuyoshi Watanabe’s strongest case for Japan at the 2026 World Cup is not flashy buildup play, but dependable center-back work: duels, aerial defending, set pieces and lineup flexibility built on a full starting season at Feyenoord.