The 2026 North & Central America World Cup is officially underway, and there’s no better time to revisit the anime that make football feel alive. This series introduces eight soccer anime — from beloved classics to modern staples — to enrich your World Cup experience. For Part 5, the spotlight falls on DAYS, the story of complete beginner Karamono Tsukushi who joins an elite high school soccer club and proves, through sheer effort, that it’s never too late to start.

What Is DAYS?

DAYS is a TV anime adaptation of the hard-hitting soccer manga by Yasuda Takeshi. The story begins when Tsukushi meets Kazama Jin, a chance encounter that leads him to join the soccer club of prestigious Seiseki High School. What follows is a coming-of-age tale of sweat, setbacks, and the bonds forged on the pitch.

Running as a Weapon

Stamina matters in every sport, and football is no exception. A player who never stops running can be just as decisive as a technical star — and that relentless quality is exactly what defines Tsukushi.

Tsukushi had never played football before Kazama invited him to a futsal game. He fell in love with the sport immediately. Looked down upon by his new teammates at first, Tsukushi never let that faze him. Driven purely by the joy of playing and the desire to belong, he threw himself into training and gradually sharpened the one weapon available to him: his ability to run.

In his first match at training camp, Tsukushi ran tirelessly — passes were loose, positioning was off, but he never stopped moving. His teammates responded with tough-love advice: “Use your head!” and “Learn when to leave it to someone else!” When the opposing team mocked Tsukushi after the match, his teammates fired back with pride: “You lost to him — our teammate we’re proud of.”

Even Kazama, hailed as a “genius,” had lost his love for the game before meeting Tsukushi. The beginner’s pure enthusiasm rekindled Kazama’s passion for football.

Effort That Goes Unrewarded

DAYS doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality that hard work doesn’t always pay off. One of the most memorable scenes is the announcement of the Inter-High squad. When Tsukushi’s name is called over that of Kasahara — a third-year who had trained relentlessly at the powerhouse school — Tsukushi breaks down in tears in front of his senior. Yet Kasahara, despite his own heartbreak, smiles and offers to help Tsukushi practice his shooting.

It’s a quietly devastating moment that captures something true about competitive sport: effort is not a guarantee of reward. Kasahara’s gracious response makes the scene all the more poignant.

Defeat Makes the Team Stronger

DAYS is also brave enough to let the protagonist’s team lose. Seiseki High falls to rival Toritsu Sakuragi High School in the Tokyo Prefectural Inter-High qualifier final. The pain of that defeat is rendered with care — the frustration, the self-doubt, and the slow process of picking themselves back up.

From there, the team sets its sights on the National Championship, joining a training camp with top clubs from across the country to confront their weaknesses head-on. They return to the pitch sharper and more united than before.

By portraying both the joy of victory and the sting of defeat, DAYS achieves a realism that makes its story resonate deeply.

DAYS Is the Perfect World Cup Companion

One of DAYS‘ greatest strengths is how naturally it teaches football. In episodes focused on defenders, the show explains defensive principles through the simple question: “What’s the thing you’d hate most if an opponent did it to you?” Episodes about forwards stress that losing the ball is the worst thing a striker can do — and then instruct Tsukushi to press aggressively to exploit exactly that fear. A teammate sums up the defensive mindset with: “We defenders are the first forwards. Always keep that in mind when protecting the goal.”

These explanations come naturally through coaches, seniors, and teammates talking to Tsukushi, making the show genuinely accessible to viewers who know nothing about football. That is DAYS‘ defining quality: it’s an anime that welcomes complete beginners.

With the World Cup in full swing — Japan drew 2–2 with the Netherlands in a tightly contested match — there’s never been a better moment to pick up DAYS. Whether you’re a lifelong football fan or someone who’s always felt the sport was “not for you,” watching Tsukushi’s journey will make every World Cup match feel a little richer.

No matter when you start, DAYS will remind you: it’s never too late.