The Japanese national team returned to Japan on the 2nd after being eliminated in the first round of the final round of the North and Central America Soccer World Cup, and coach Hajime Moriyasu, Japan Football Association (JFA) president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, and others held a press conference in Tokyo. Japan entered their 8th World Cup with the goal of winning, and finished in 2nd place in Group F of the first round with one win and two draws. They aimed for their first victory in the final tournament, which was their third consecutive appearance, but they lost 1-2 to five-time champions Brazil in the first round in Houston, USA.