“When an opportunity comes, I won’t let it slip away”: Kodai Sano talks about his Champions League debut and his determination to make the World Cup in four years with the Japanese national team
Kota Sano (23) formed the first-ever “brother double defensive midfield duo” with his older brother, Kaishu, on the Japanese national team following the North and Central America World Cup. In Part 1, he spoke about playing alongside his brother on the national team and the frustration of being left off the World Cup roster. This summer, he transferred to the powerhouse Dutch club PSV and made his Champions League debut.
In this second part, we hear about his growth at the club level, the origins of his exceptional stamina, the challenges he faces with the Japanese national team, and his determination as he looks ahead to the World Cup four years from now.
Kota Sano on the Origins of His “Endurance-Driven Physique”
Last season, he played every league match for NEC in the Dutch first division, helping the team finish in third place. This summer, he transferred to PSV, one of the Netherlands’ top clubs, and immediately secured a starting spot in midfield.
On September 10, he made his debut in the UEFA Champions League (hereinafter “CL”), Europe’s premier competition, which he had long aspired to play in.He played the full 90 minutes against Shakhtar (Ukraine), and the Dutch soccer magazine *Voetbal International* gave him a “7.5 (out of 10)”—the team’s highest rating—noting that “Sano, making his CL debut, shone the brightest.”
“I wasn’t nervous, but when I heard that anthem (the official theme song), I couldn’t believe I was actually there. For the first 10 minutes or so, I had a hard time focusing on the game. There was a unique atmosphere.
It was one of my dreams, so I was happy to start. But my play itself still has a long way to go. Going forward, I hope to show more of my own style.”
In the match against Spartak immediately following that (September 13), he scored the winning goal. Riding the wave of his strong form since joining PSV, he entered this national team camp. While he’s been consistently delivering results at the club level, he’s being asked to adapt to a different style of play with the Japanese national team.
“They use a lot of man-to-man marking and individual tactics—that’s the gap I’m facing. When we play as a team (for the national team), how should I play? I haven’t fully grasped that yet. I want to get the hang of it as soon as possible.”
One of Kodai’s strengths is his exceptional work rate, which local media has praised as “diligent, always showing up everywhere, and winning the ball frequently.” Last season, among all field players in the Dutch first division, Kodai was the only one to play the full 3,060 minutes across all 34 matches.
The origins of his “endurance” may lie in his elementary school days spent in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, with his older brother, Kaishu. It took about two hours one way to walk from his home to school—a long commute that took him through rice paddies, mountains, and forests.
“It was really far, so it’s possible that’s where I built up my stamina (laughs). There were a lot of hills, too. I wanted to get home quickly to play soccer, so I used to run all the way back from school.”
The Japanese national team’s midfield is packed with talented players, including Daichi Kamada (30), Ao Tanaka (28), his older brother Kaishu, and Satoshi Tanaka (24), who transferred to Schalke this summer.Just because he’s secured a starting spot at PSV doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed a spot on the national team. However, if he continues to gain experience at PSV—which competes in the Champions League, Europe’s top tournament—it wouldn’t be surprising if he earned a spot on the national team.
“I’m always thinking about seizing any opportunity that comes my way,”
His older brother, Kaishu, made his presence felt in this international series following his World Cup performance, but Kodai was limited to just two appearances—totaling about 60 minutes—across the four-match series and was unable to fully showcase his strengths. Even so, his sights are set on four years from now.
“My goal is to play in the next World Cup. With that in mind, I’d be happy to be selected for every training camp, and I hope to make my case.”
A future where “Sano and Sano” line up together in the Japan national team’s midfield at the World Cup four years from now—such a scenario is by no means a pipe dream.
He joined the Japanese national team alongside his brother Kaishu (right), who plays for Mainz. The two have been immersed in soccer since childhood. When he was in middle school, his older brother turned pro, which served as a source of inspiration for him.
In the match against New Zealand on October 5, he entered the game in the 33rd minute of the second half. He contributed to the victory by pressing hard with his exceptional stamina
From the October 23 & 30, 2026, combined issue of *FRIDAY*
Reporting and Text： Masao Kurihara