Japan's World Cup preparations have hit a potential snag as head coach Hajime Moriyasu anxiously awaits the fitness update on star forward Kaoru Mitoma before naming his squad this Friday. The dynamic winger limped off with an apparent hamstring injury during the second half of Brighton's emphatic 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Mitoma, who was one of Japan's most electrifying performers at the 2022 World Cup, has been in scintillating form this season. He recently etched his name into football lore by scoring the decisive goal in Japan's 1-0 win over England at Wembley Stadium in March, a result that sent shockwaves through the international football community.

With the World Cup just five weeks away—Japan kicks off their campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 in Arlington, Texas—the timing of this injury could not be worse. Moriyasu's concerns were palpable when he spoke to Japanese media on Sunday: "I hope it's a minor injury. But I was told by staff, 'It doesn't seem minor.'"

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler confirmed the initial diagnosis, noting that "it looked like a hamstring injury," but the club is awaiting scan results to determine the full extent of the damage. The Seagulls, currently sitting seventh in the Premier League, are still in the hunt for a Champions League berth with just two matches remaining. England could see a record-tying six teams qualify for Europe's elite competition, adding extra pressure on Mitoma to return quickly for his club.

This injury setback compounds Japan's attacking woes, as they are already without another key forward, Takumi Minamino, who suffered a torn ACL while playing for Monaco in December. The Samurai Blue will need all hands on deck as they navigate a challenging Group F, which also includes matches against Tunisia on June 20 in Monterrey, Mexico, and Sweden on June 25 back in Texas. The top two teams advance to the round of 32, with the third-place finisher also having a potential path forward.

For now, Japan's football faithful can only hold their breath and hope that Mitoma's hamstring heals quickly—because a World Cup without one of their brightest stars would be a devastating blow to their ambitions on the global stage.