Post-Draw Press Conference Transcript: France & Japan Address the Nation

FIFA World Cup 2026 Media Operations — Joint Press Conference Transcript Session 47-B | Venue: Media Center, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles Language: English. Simultaneous interpretation provided in French, Japanese, and Shrug.

MODERATOR: Good afternoon. We'll take questions for both delegations. France is seated on the left. Japan is seated on the right. Please direct your questions accordingly. Both camps have kindly agreed to remain in the same room until someone mentions the 2012 friendly.

Q (AP Wire): France — you've won this tournament twice. Do you feel any pressure at 2026?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: Our president has instructed us to feel no pressure. Therefore, we feel no pressure. We have Mbappé. He is 27. He scored 12 goals in qualifying.1 There is nothing further to discuss.

Q: And the bracket path? Could you face Japan?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: We acknowledge Japan exists. Japan is in Group F.2 We are in Group I.3 If both teams advance as expected — [long pause, adjustment of scarf] — we could meet as early as the Round of 32. We consider this likely. We are also considering a nap.

Q (NHK): Japan — France has beaten you four times in six meetings overall, winning by scores like 5-0 and 4-1.4 How do you respond to that?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: (long pause) We also won 1-0 in 2012.

Q: That was a friendly.

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: A win is a win.

Q: France wasn't at full strength.

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: A win. Is a win.

MODERATOR: (quietly) And there it is.

The kind of crowd both France and Japan expect to be playing in front of — as long as the spreadsheet holds up.

Q (France 24): Coach Deschamps — this is reportedly your final World Cup as France manager.5 Does that add emotional weight?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: Coach Deschamps has no emotions during tournaments. This is documented. His emotions have been submitted to FIFA in a sealed envelope, to be opened after the final whistle of the Final, which we intend to play in.

Q: Griezmann was cut from the squad. Camavinga was cut. Kolo Muani was cut. Is the selection controversial?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: The selection is curated. There is a difference. We have Mbappé, Dembélé — who won the Ballon d'Or — Désiré Doué, and N'Golo Kanté, who is 35 years old and still runs faster than your questions.6

Q (Asahi Shimbun): Japan — Kaoru Mitoma is injured and will miss the tournament.7 That's your most dangerous wide player. How does the team compensate?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: Takefusa Kubo has promised to compensate. He helped Real Sociedad win the Copa del Rey this season.7 He is 24 years old. He is very good. He told us he is fine. We believe him. We have also prepared a spreadsheet.

Q: A spreadsheet?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: Japan's coaching staff has prepared tactical analysis files totaling over 2,000 pages for the group stage alone. Coach Moriyasu leads the most analytically rigorous preparation process in the tournament. The spreadsheet is color-coded by opponent pressing triggers.

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: (audible snort from across the table)

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: We saw that.

Q (ESPN): Let's talk about actual football. Japan, you've beaten Germany, Brazil, England, and Spain since 2022. Do you genuinely believe you can beat France?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: We beat England 1-0 in a friendly in March 2026.7 We also beat Scotland.

Q: France has the #1 FIFA ranking.6 Japan is #18.7

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: Germany was ranked higher than us in Qatar. And yet.

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: We were not Germany.

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: You were ranked lower than Germany in 2022.

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: (long silence) That is technically correct.

Q (BBC Sport): France — Japan's high press and counter-pressing system has caused problems for every major European side since 2022. Are you concerned?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: Mbappé runs faster than their press.

Q: That's your answer for everything.

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: Because it is true for everything.

Q: What about Wataru Endo's midfield protection? He shields the defense, intercepts transitions, and has been Japan's most consistent player at club level at Liverpool.8

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: We also have N'Golo Kanté. At 35. I want everyone in this room to internalize that.

Q (Reuters): Japan — historically, the Round of 16 has been your ceiling at the World Cup. Four times out at that stage, including a penalty shootout against Croatia in Qatar.9 What makes 2026 different?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: In 2022 we were the first non-European, non-South American team to top a group containing two former World Cup winners. This attracted media attention. We would prefer the media pay less attention to our ceiling and more attention to our process.

Q: Which is?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: The spreadsheet. Which we have already mentioned.

Before the pressing triggers activate: one ball, two very different tactical philosophies.

Q (Marca): A historical question for both delegations. France beat Japan 5-0 in a 2001 friendly. Japan, does that score still sting?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: That was 25 years ago.

Q: Does it still sting?

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: (adjusts microphone) We prepared a response to this exact question. (reads from note) "History is context, not destiny." (folds note) That is our response.

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: Very dignified. We would like to add that Thierry Henry scored in that match.

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: This press conference is going poorly for us.

Q (NHK, follow-up): One more. Both sides — genuine prediction. Who advances further at this World Cup?

FRANCE SPOKESPERSON: France. Mbappé. Group I. Relatively straightforward group. Senegal is dangerous, Norway has Haaland, but we have Dembélé with the Ballon d'Or and a man coaching his last tournament who has nothing to lose. We will be in the semifinal at minimum.

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: Japan. Group F. Netherlands opener on June 14, which is our hardest group game.7 But we beat the Netherlands in Qatar's Round of 16 before losing on penalties. We know their patterns. We have prepared a document.

Q: Let me guess —

JAPAN SPOKESPERSON: It is also color-coded.

MODERATOR: We'll end there. The 2012 friendly was not mentioned by name. Both delegations will now pose for photographs. Japan's delegation will smile. France's delegation will be photographed looking into the middle distance.

EDITOR'S NOTE: France is in Group I alongside Senegal, Iraq, and Norway, and has won the World Cup in 1998 and 2018. Japan is in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden, with a World Cup best of the Round of 16. The only time these two nations have met at a major senior tournament was the 2001 and 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup — France won both.4 If both teams advance from their respective groups, they could meet in the knockout rounds. France's historical record against Japan is 4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. The loss was a 2012 friendly. Japan has been informed.

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