We Still Talk About It Every Month… The Contents of the “LINE Message Sent Before the Brazil Match” from Manager Hajime Moriyasu’s Close Friend, Teruo Iwamoto

The Reason He’s Paying Out of Pocket to Watch Every World Cup Match in Person

“To be honest, I thought we could win. At the end of the first half, I even called a Japanese acquaintance from NRG Stadium (in Houston, U.S.) and said, ‘If we score a second goal, it’s all over.’

But in the second half, before we knew it, we were being pushed back further and further. I don’t think the Japanese national team in recent years has ever been forced to drop back that far as a whole. Japan barely had a single shot on goal in the second half, right? I was watching, thinking it was only a matter of time before they conceded a goal. There were some good moments, but their limitations were also evident. That’s my take on the match against Brazil.”

Former Japan national team midfielder Teruo Iwamoto (54) watched all four matches of Moriyasu’s Japan team at the CONCACAF World Cup on site.

“Brazil changed their approach in the second half. They used diagonal passes and kept sending crosses into Japan’s penalty area. Japan struggles when the ball is played into the box like that. The equalizing goal came from a diagonal cross after they pushed deep down the flank.

Come to think of it, we also lost in a comeback defeat to Belgium at the 2018 World Cup in Russia due to a play that started on the wing, didn’t we? So, in a sense, it once again exposed Japan’s persistent weakness. There’s no doubt Japan is improving, but the barrier to the world’s top teams is still very high.”

Mr. Iwamoto witnessed the thickness of that barrier firsthand from the stands this time, just as he did at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. And he wasn’t there for work. He has consistently paid out of his own pocket to watch World Cup matches in person.

Why does he go to such lengths to attend the World Cup?One major reason is the presence of Head Coach Hajime Moriyasu (57). The two first met in 1994. They deepened their friendship from the very day Iwamoto, then 21, was first selected for the Japanese national team, and later became teammates at Kyoto Purple Sanga (now Kyoto Sanga) and Vegalta Sendai.

Affectionately, Iwamoto calls Coach Moriyasu—who is four years his senior—“Poichi-san.”

“Of course, there are things you can’t understand unless you see them in person, and it’s a learning experience. But the real reason I’m going to the World Cup is to cheer on Poichi-san.”

The last time they met before the World Cup was on May 22, just before the final domestic training camp, and Iwamoto laughs, “He was his usual Poichi-san self.”

“Even when I say something presumptuous like, ‘I bet we’ll beat the Netherlands and Tunisia and draw with Sweden,’ he just responds, ‘Two wins and one draw, huh? That’d be nice’ (laughs). We usually meet about once a month and talk for two or three hours, and most of it is about soccer. We sometimes talk about the national team, but he never leaks any inside information. He’s very strict about that.”

I made a point of not contacting him during the tournament. However, there was one memorable exchange.

“Poichi was in top form for the matches against the Netherlands and Tunisia, but against Sweden, he wore a jacket and struggled in the final stretch. So, in a column for a soccer magazine, I wrote something like, ‘I hope he takes off his jacket and plays against Brazil.’

Then I got a LINE message from him himself, saying, ‘I’ll take off my jacket and play in tomorrow’s match against Brazil.’ And sure enough, he was in his vest for the Brazil game. No matter how famous he gets, he hasn’t changed a bit. His hairstyle’s always the same, too. Not a single gray hair in sight (laughs).”

The July 16 issue of *FRIDAY (July 31)* and the paid edition *FRIDAY GOLD* feature detailed reports on Coach Moriyasu’s determination and candid thoughts about leading the Japanese national team, as shared with Mr. Iwamoto; surprising remarks he made during a period when he was facing criticism; and insights into the next head coach.

Click here to view the full article and multiple photos↓

From the July 31, 2026 issue of *FRIDAY*