You already know Goro's going to chase it. Five seasons in, you're not watching to find out if he makes the team, you're watching to see what part of himself he has to break to get there. The World Cup is just the excuse the show needed to stop pretending this is about baseball and start asking what winning actually costs a person who's already given everything.
Goro Honda comes back to Japan once his baseball season ends, and Toshi tells him that a Baseball World Cup will be held in America the following year. Goro wants badly to represent his country, but the national team roster has already been picked without him. His stepfather sits on the team's coaching staff, and Goro, confident in what he gained playing in the minor league, refuses to give up. He signs on as a practice pitcher for the national team, hoping to show the manager his speed and skill. His real chance comes in a practice match that pits the veteran Japanese squad against young players aiming to take their place. The tournament will gather strong players from around the world and set up Goro's long-awaited clash with his longtime rival, Joe Gibson.
