Japan has the potential to lift the 2026 World Cup trophy, according to Keisuke Honda, one of the country’s most iconic footballers of the early 2000s.

“They have the potential to reach at least the semifinals next year, maybe even become champions,” Honda said on Tuesday at the AVCJ Private Equity Forum in Hong Kong. “There is nothing impossible. They have a lot of talented players now, so I hope they make it.”

Honda, who earned 90 caps for Japan and played in three World Cups, also co-founded Japan-focused venture capital firm X&KSK.

Japan has already secured qualification for next year’s tournament in North America. Their performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was historic, with stunning victories over European giants Spain and Germany, before bowing out in the Round of 16.

Honda, 39, enjoyed a globetrotting club career, playing in at least five countries, including a spell with Serie A powerhouse AC Milan. Now a venture investor with a focus on startups in Japan and the United States, Honda revealed that his football ambitions are far from over.

“My current dreams are twofold: to be one of the best investors in the world and the best coach in the world, which means winning the World Cup as a coach,” he told the forum audience.

Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines, Honda added that he hopes to one day manage Japan’s national team.

On the investment side, Honda’s X&KSK raised approximately ¥15.3 billion in its first fund earlier this year, attracting support from major backers including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SBI Group, and Nomura. Honda also co-founded Dreamers VC with American actor Will Smith, a firm investing in consumer, tech, entertainment, and biotech sectors in the U.S.

Honda’s blend of ambition on and off the pitch suggests that, whether as a player, coach, or investor, he’s always aiming for the top.