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Japan enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a ton of confidence.
One of the reasons: They believe in their goalie, Zion Suzuki.
Suzuki hasn't taken a traditional path to the Japanese national team, but he earned the job between the posts and now will play a key role in their journey in North America this summer.
Here's what you need to know about Suzuki.
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Who is Japan's goalie?
Japan's goalie is Zion Suzuki.
He's a 23-year old who plays in Italy's Serie A for Parma.
He entered the World Cup having played 22 matches at the senior level for Japan.
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Where are Zion Suzuki's parents from?
Suzuki was born to a father from Ghana and a mother from Japan.
He was actually born in Newark, New Jersey.
When he was still a kid, Suzuki and his family moved to Urawa in Japan.
He played goalie from an early age and came up in the academy of the Urawa Red Diamonds.
Suzuki never represented another country at the youth level, either, starting his Japanese career at the U15 level and carrying on all the way to the starting goalie job for the senior national team.
English (US)