Japan is used to having underrated players take the spotlight in international competitions. The 2026 World Cup in North America is no different. Despite missing some key starters in left winger Kaoru Mitoma, midfielder Wataru Endo and versatile attacker Takumi Minamino, other members of the S amurai Blue are stepping up. One such player that has been in headlines is goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who made some key saves in the thrilling 2-2 draw vs. the Netherlands at Dallas Stadium to open the tournament. Suzuki, 23, plays for Italian club Parma in the country’s top league amid his rise for Japan’s national team. But there’s another universe in which he actually could’ve represented the U.S. men’s national team instead. 2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer Mar 3 Everything to know about the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Teams, how to watch and more 2026 World Cup Dec 6, 2025 Full 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule: See the key dates, kickoff times and venues 2026 World Cup Dec 3, 2025 How will the 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup work? New format explained How so? Suzuki was actually born to a Ghanaian father and Japanese mother in Newark, New Jersey. He could’ve chosen any of the three nations to play for at the international level, but decided to represent Japan as a youth since he grew up in Urawa, Saitama. Suzuki will need to keep playing at a high level with Japan in an underrated Group F that also includes Sweden and Tunisia. But it’s also a “what could’ve been?” situation for the U.S., as the Stars and Stripes don’t have a clear-cut No. 1 of their own. Suzuki’s modern-day goalie profile and development would’ve been ideal. ...read more read less