North Texans are literally opening their doors to soccer fans for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Maggie Walters is hosting a 22-year-old Japanese college student named Yuto Osato. NBC 5’s Noelle Walker first caught up with him two weeks ago. “This is my home. Yeah, I’ll be here. I feel like, yeah, comfortable,” Osata said. Osato biked from Pittsburgh to Grand Prairie; he says he’s more of a soccer fan than a cyclist. He had never biked for more than an hour before his month-long, 1,500-mile journey to North Texas. Walters and Osato connected through Facebook. Osato is attending all three of Japan’s group stage matches, including the 4-0 win over Tunisia in Monterrey, Mexico. He was supposed to bus there, because the bike ride was too long; however, a Mexican airline offered him a free plane ticket. “When he went to Mexico for the second Japan match, he got a free plane ticket and a place to stay. He got to stay with friends, my friends, and they took him everywhere,” Walters said. Osata also attended Wednesday’s welcome party at Harwood Park in Downtown Dallas. Hundreds of fans showed up dressed in blue to enjoy barbecue and live music. Walters made Osato lunch before the big party – tostadas. Walters said he’s become like a son to her; she has 5 kids of her own. “He has become family. We have already told him that if he ever meets a beautiful Japanese girl or Latina, we will go for both,” Walters said. Walters is not the only person helping Osato on his trip. “I was going to drop him off to the game, the first game that Japan had here. And I didn’t have to because a luxury shuttle showed up at the door to pick them both up.” Osato has been taking in Texas culture, like sombrero shopping and eating Tex-Mex. He was even gifted a custom Mexico jersey from one of Walters’ friends with his name and Japan’s flag on the back. He’s also met other Japan fans, who have become friends. “This doesn’t end here. This is just the beginning of a lifetime friendship,” Walter said. Japan plays Sweden tonight at 6 p.m. with a spot in the knockout rounds on the line. Japan could still qualify as a third-place team with a loss, but it would depend on tie-breakers with teams in other groups. Rex’s in Fort Worth is hosting a Japan American Society of DFW watch party tonight. Plano also hosted a welcome party for Japan fans ahead of their first match in Dallas two weeks ago. The team that wins Group F will play Morocco in Monterrey, Mexico, on Monday, June 29, at 8 p.m. CST. The second-place team will play Brazil the same day in Houston at noon. Don’t be surprised if Osato find his way there, either way. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less